Beurré Dalbret
PearBeurré Dalbret
Origin/History
A foreign variety (Downing). According to Hedrick, it was obtained by Van Mons prior to 1832.
Tree
Tree vigorous and productive. Young wood reddish. (Downing. Tree not described in Hedrick.)
Fruit
Size and Form: Medium or above, elongated pyriform (both sources). Downing further describes it as angular, often with a suture on one side; Hedrick describes it as rather indented and irregular.
Stem: Short, thick, and fleshy, much inclined at its insertion by a lip. (Downing only.)
Cavity: Not described in source.
Calyx: Small, open, or partially closed. (Downing only.)
Basin: Small and uneven. (Downing only.)
Skin: The two sources give conflicting accounts. Downing describes the skin as yellow, mostly covered with cinnamon russet. Hedrick describes it as golden or greenish-yellow, dotted all over, mottled and spotted with bright red.
Flesh and Flavor: Downing describes the flesh as greenish white; Hedrick describes it simply as white. Both sources agree it is juicy, melting, and perfumed. Downing elaborates: exceedingly juicy, buttery, with a rich vinous flavor, highly perfumed. Rated "Very good" by Downing; rated "first" by Hedrick.
Core/Seeds: Not described in source.
Season
October (Downing). September and October (Hedrick).
Uses
Not described in source.
Subtypes/Variants
Not described in source.
Other
Not described in source.
Book Sources
Described in 2 period pomological works
View original book sources (2)
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Beurré d'Albret.
Poire d'Albret. Beurre Delbret. Dalbret. Calebasse d'Albret.
A foreign variety. Tree vigorous and productive. Young wood reddish.
Fruit medium or above, elongated pyriform, angular, often with a suture on one side. Skin yellow, mostly covered with cinnamon russet. Stalk short, thick, and fleshy, much inclined at its insertion by a lip. Calyx small, open, or partially closed. Basin small and uneven. Flesh greenish white, exceedingly juicy, buttery, melting, with a rich vinous flavor, highly perfumed. Very good. October.
— U.P. Hedrick, The Pears of New York (1921)Beurré Dalbret.
- Leroy Dict. Pom. 1:343, fig. 1867.
- Downing Fr. Trees Am. 678. 1869.
This variety was obtained by Van Mons prior to 1832. Fruit medium or above, elongated-pyriform, rather indented and irregular, golden or greenish-yellow, dotted all over, mottled and spotted with bright red; flesh white, fine, juicy, melting, perfumed; first; Sept. and Oct.