Beurre Duval
PearBeurre Duval
Origin / History
A Belgian pear, raised by M. Duval. Found among a collection of seedlings raised by M. Duval, Hainaut, Bel., some time before 1823 (Hedrick).
Tree
Tree vigorous, productive. Young wood pretty stout, grayish olive brown.
Fruit
Size: Medium to large; Thomas gives medium.
Form: Varying from obovate to oblong obtuse pyriform; obtuse pyriform or Bartlett-shaped (Thomas); short-pyramidal, bossed (Hedrick).
Stem: Stalk moderately stout.
Cavity: Little or no depression.
Calyx: Open.
Basin: Not described in source.
Skin: Warm yellow, greenish yellow, or pale green (Thomas), dull brown in the sun, often washed with red on the side exposed to the sun (Hedrick). Patches and nettings of russet; large, dark brown patches (Hedrick).
Dots: Many, brown (Downing); large, greenish-gray freckles (Hedrick).
Flesh and flavor: Whitish (Downing) or yellowish (Hedrick); juicy, melting, buttery; sweet, pleasant, sugary and aromatic, with "good flavor" (Thomas). Quality "Good to very good" (Downing); "first" (Hedrick).
Core and seeds: Not described in source.
Season
September to November. Most authors give October, or October to November; Hedrick alone begins in September.
Uses
Not described in source.
Subtypes / Variants
Not described in source.
Other
Hedrick cites Leroy, Dict. Pom. 1:356, figs., 1867, and Hogg, Fruit Man. 520, 1884. Thomas figures it as Fig. 644.
Book Sources
Described in 3 period pomological works
Nursery Catalog Sources
Found in 1 catalog (1849) from Massachusetts
- Hovey & Co. , Cambridge , Massachusetts — 1849
View original book sources (3)
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Beurre Duval.
Duval. Dwael. Roi Louis Nouveau. Audibert.
A Belgian Pear, raised by M. Duval. Tree vigorous, productive. Young wood pretty stout, grayish olive brown.
Fruit medium to large, varying in form from obovate to oblong obtuse pyriform. Skin warm yellow, dull brown in the sun, and with patches and nettings of russet and many brown dots. Stalk mode- rately stout, with little or no depression. Calyx open. Flesh whitish, juicy, melting, sweet, pleasant. Good to very good. October.
— John J. Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)Duval. Medium, obtuse pyriform or Bartlett-shaped; pale green; buttery, melting, with good flavor. October, November. Productive. Fig. 644.
— U.P. Hedrick, The Pears of New York (1921)Beurre Duval.
- Leroy Dict. Pom. 1:356, figs. 1867.
- Hogg Fruit Man. 520. 1884.
This variety was found among a collection of seedlings raised by M. Duval, Hainaut, Bel., some time before 1823. Fruit medium to large; short-pyramidal, bossed, greenish-yellow, covered with large, greenish-gray freckles and large, dark brown patches, often washed with red on the side exposed to the sun; flesh yellowish, melting and juicy, sugary and aromatic; first; Sept. to Nov.