Besi Goubault
PearBesi Goubault
Origin/History
A French pear raised by M. Goubault near Angers, France. Downing dates the origin to 1845; Hedrick records that it was submitted to the notice of the Horticultural Society of Maine-et-Loire in 1846. Hedrick cites Leroy, Dict. Pom. 1:272, fig. (1867) and Hogg, Fruit Man. 506 (1884) as references.
Tree
Not described in sources.
Fruit
Size and Form: The sources diverge here. Downing describes the fruit as medium in size, irregular in form, and generally roundish obovate. Hedrick describes it as large, or sometimes medium, globular, bossed, flattened at the base, mammillate at the summit, with sides unequal.
Stem: Not described in sources.
Cavity: Not described in sources.
Calyx: Not described in sources.
Basin: Not described in sources.
Skin: The sources agree on a russet-covered surface but differ in the base color. Downing describes the skin as yellow, mostly covered with cinnamon russet, and marked with many russet dots. Hedrick describes it as greenish-yellow, dotted and streaked with russet.
Flesh/Flavor: Downing describes the flesh as tender, half melting, and gritty at the core, rating the quality as Good. Hedrick describes the flesh as very white, very fine, and melting, with some small grits around the center; the juice is extremely abundant, saccharine, perfumed, and of a delicate and agreeable flavor, rating the quality as first.
Core/Seeds: Not described in sources.
Season
The sources conflict substantially. Downing gives February–March, indicating a long-keeping late-winter pear. Hedrick gives September to November, indicating a fall variety.
Uses
Not described in sources.
Subtypes/Variants
Not described in sources.
Book Sources
Described in 2 period pomological works
View original book sources (2)
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Bezi Goubault.
A French Pear, originated in 1845.
Fruit medium size, irregular in form, generally roundish obovate. Skin yellow, mostly covered with cinnamon russet, and many russet dots. Flesh tender, half melting, gritty at core. Good. February, March.
— U.P. Hedrick, The Pears of New York (1921)Besi Goubault.
- Leroy Dict. Pom. 1:272, fig. 1867.
- Hogg Fruit Man. 506. 1884.
Raised by M. Goubault near Angers, Fr., and submitted to the notice of the Horticultural Society of Maine-et-Loire in 1846. Fruit large or sometimes medium, globular, bossed, flattened at the base, mammillate at the summit, with sides unequal, greenish-yellow, dotted and streaked with russet; flesh very white, very fine, melting, containing some small grits around the center; juice extremely abundant, saccharine, perfumed and having a delicate and agreeable flavor; first; Sept. to Nov.