Beurré de Quenast
PearBeurré de Quenast
Origin/History
Appears to have originated at the village of Quenast, Brabant, Belgium, but the date and circumstances of its origin are unknown (Hedrick). The variety is described in Annales de Pomologie Belge 2:15, with figure, 1854, and in Leroy's Dictionnaire de Pomologie 1:414, with figure, 1867 (Hedrick).
Downing records that several pears were received under this name, one of which proved identical with Louise Bon de Jersey; the identity of the remaining specimens remained in doubt. Downing's description is copied from the Annals of Pomology.
Tree
Not described in source.
Fruit
Size: Medium (both sources agree).
Form: The two sources conflict. Downing (via Annals of Pomology) describes the fruit as roundish oblong pyriform, slightly acute. Hedrick describes it as turbinate, slightly obtuse, and bossed.
Stem: Not described in source.
Cavity: Not described in source.
Calyx: Not described in source. Downing notes russet collects next to the calyx.
Basin: Not described in source.
Skin: Greenish yellow (Downing) or bright yellow-green (Hedrick), with patches of russet and russet concentrated next to the stalk and calyx (Downing); sprinkled with large dots of russet and some patches of darker russet (Hedrick).
Flesh/Flavor: Whitish (Hedrick) or white (Downing). The two sources give somewhat differing characterizations of texture and flavor: Downing describes the flesh as melting, juicy, sweet, and pleasantly perfumed; Hedrick describes it as semi-fine, semi-melting, juicy, gritty around the core, saccharine, acidulous, and of good flavor. Both agree on juiciness; Hedrick's account adds the qualification of grittiness around the core and notes an acidulous component alongside the sweetness.
Core/Seeds: Not described in source beyond Hedrick's note of grittiness around the core.
Season
Late September (Hedrick) or October (Downing).
Uses
Not described in source.
Subtypes/Variants
Downing records that at least one specimen received under the name Beurré de Quenast proved on fruiting to be identical with Louise Bon de Jersey. The remaining specimens he received under this name were not positively identified.
Other
Hedrick rates the variety "second" in quality.
Book Sources
Described in 2 period pomological works
View original book sources (2)
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Beurre de Quenast.
We have received several Pears under this name, one of which has proved identical with Louise Bon de Jersey, and as we have doubts of the others, we copy description from the Annals of Pomology, as follows:—
Fruit medium, roundish oblong pyriform, slightly acute, greenish yellow, with patches of russet, and russet next the stalk and calyx. Flesh white, melting, juicy, sweet, and pleasantly perfumed. October.
— U.P. Hedrick, The Pears of New York (1921)Beurré de Quenast.
- Ann. Pom. Belge 2:15, fig. 1854.
- Leroy Dict. Pom. 1:414, fig. 1867.
Appears to have originated at the village of Quenast, Brabant, Bel., but the date and circumstances of its origin are unknown. Fruit medium, turbinate, slightly obtuse, bossed, bright yellow-green, sprinkled with large dots of russet and some patches of darker russet; flesh whitish, semi-fine, semi-melting, juicy, gritty around the core, saccharine, acidulous, of good flavor; second; late Sept.