Beurré Knox
PearBeurré Knox
Origin / History
Raised by Van Mons before 1819 (Hedrick). A Flemish variety (Downing).
Tree
Vigorous in growth, productive (Downing).
Fruit
Size: Large.
Form: Oblong obovate (Downing). Varies from true turbinate to globular-turbinate, bossed and contorted (Hedrick).
Stem: Not described in source.
Cavity: Not described in source.
Calyx: Not described in source.
Basin: Not described in source.
Skin: Smooth, shining, pale green in the shade, tinged with red on the side next the sun; russet on one side (Downing).
Dots: Not described in source.
Flesh and flavor: Whitish, semi-fine, tender and soft, melting, juicy, sweet; flavor agreeable, but not high-flavored. Downing calls the quality "hardly good".
Core and seeds: Not described in source.
Season
Last of September (Downing).
Uses
Second for eating, first for the kitchen (Hedrick).
Subtypes / Variants
Not described in source.
Other
Not described in source.
Book Sources
Described in 2 period pomological works
Nursery Catalog Sources
Found in 2 catalogs (1845–1849) from Massachusetts
- Winship's Nursery (Brighton Nurseries , operated by the Winship family), Brighton (Boston) , Massachusetts — 1845
- Hovey & Co. , Cambridge , Massachusetts — 1849
View original book sources (2)
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Beurre Knox.
A Flemish variety, of vigorous growth, productive.
Fruit large, oblong obovate. Skin pale green, russet on one side. Flesh tender and soft, juicy and sweet, but not high-flavored, hardly good. Last of September.
— U.P. Hedrick, The Pears of New York (1921)Beurré Knox.
- Leroy Dict. Pom. 1:387, figs. 1867.
- Hogg Fruit Man. 523. 1884. Raised by Van Mons before 1819. Fruit large; form varies from true turbinate to globular-turbinate, bossed and contorted, smooth, shining pale green in shade, tinged with red on the side next the sun; flesh whitish, semi-fine, melting, juicy, of agreeable flavor; second for eating, first for the kitchen.