Beurré Berckmans
PearBeurré Berckmans
Origin/History
One of Major Esperen's seedlings, dedicated to M. Louis Berckmans, once a collaborer in pomology (Downing). Hedrick attributes the variety instead to Alexandre Bivort, Louvain, Belgium — a conflicting account of the raiser. Referenced in Leroy's Dictionnaire de Pomologie (1:316, fig., 1867) and Downing's Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (674, 1869). Also known under the name Alexandre Berckmans (Downing).
Tree
Vigorous, upright, very productive (Downing). Young wood very stout, blunt at ends, yellowish olive (Downing). Tree characteristics not described in Hedrick or Elliott.
Fruit
Size: Medium or above (Downing, Hedrick); medium (Elliott).
Form: Obovate pyriform, sometimes obovate acute pyriform (Downing); long, obovate-obtuse-pyriform (Hedrick); turbinate or short pyriform (Elliott). Note conflicting impression of length: Hedrick describes the fruit as long, Elliott as turbinate or short pyriform.
Stem: Of medium length, fleshy, very much inclined (Downing); at right angles, large (Elliott). These accounts conflict on both angle and size — Downing describes the stalk as very much inclined, Elliott as set at right angles; Downing calls it medium, Elliott calls it large.
Cavity: Not described in source.
Calyx: Small, open (Downing); small (Elliott).
Basin: Shallow, furrowed (Downing, Elliott).
Skin: Yellowish, rough, chiefly covered with russet (Downing; Elliott similarly: yellowish, rough russet); yellow-ochre, generally covered with streaks and markings of fawn (Hedrick).
Flesh: White (Downing, Elliott); whitish, fine (Hedrick). Very buttery, melting (Downing); very melting, seldom gritty (Hedrick); melting (Elliott). Juicy (Downing, Elliott); juice excessive (Hedrick). Rich, highly perfumed flavor (Downing); perfumed, refreshing and delicate (Hedrick); highly perfumed (Elliott).
Core/Seeds: Core small (Elliott). Not described in Downing or Hedrick.
Season
October–November (Downing); November (Elliott); November–December (Hedrick).
Uses
Dessert. Rated "very good" (Downing, Elliott); "first" quality (Hedrick).
Subtypes/Variants
Not described in source.
Other
Not described in source.
Book Sources
Described in 3 period pomological works
View original book sources (3)
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Beurre Berckmans.
Alexandre Berckmans.
One of Major Esperen's seedlings, dedicated to M. Louis Berckmans, once a colaborer in pomology. Tree vigorous, upright, very productive. Young wood very stout, blunt at ends, yellowish olive.
Fruit medium or above, obovate pyriform, sometimes obovate acute pyriform. Skin yellowish, rough, chiefly covered with russet. Stalk of medium length, fleshy, very much inclined. Calyx small, open, in a shallow furrowed basin. Flesh white, juicy, very buttery, melting, with a rich, highly perfumed flavor. Very good. October, November.
— U.P. Hedrick, The Pears of New York (1921)Beurré Berckmans.
- Leroy Dict. Pom. 1:316, fig. 1867. 2. Downing Fr. Trees Am. 674. 1869.
Gained by Alexandre Bivort, Louvain, Bel. Fruit medium or above, long, obovate-obtuse-pyriform, yellow-ochre, generally covered with streaks and markings of fawn; flesh whitish, fine, very melting, seldom gritty; juice excessive, perfumed; refreshing and delicate; first; Nov. and Dec.
— F.R. Elliott, The Western Fruit Book (1865)Beurre Berckmans. Medium, turbinate or short pyriform; yellowish, rough russet; stem, at right angles, large; calyx, small, basin, shallow, furrowed; flesh, white, juicy, melting, highly perfumed; core, small; "very good." November.