Beurré Kossuth

Pear

Beurré Kossuth

Origin and History

A variety from Belgium. It was received by the French nurseryman André Leroy about 1849 among numerous varieties sent to him by many persons for trial, and was subsequently documented in Magazin d'Horticulture (18:295, fig. 21, 1852) and Leroy's own Dictionnaire de Pomologie (1:389, fig. 1867, 1867).

Tree

Of moderate vigor and productive. (Hedrick does not describe the tree; detail from Downing only.)

Fruit

Size and Form: Large. Variable in form; Downing describes it as generally pyriform obtuse, while Hedrick specifies it as always turbinate and swelled at the central circumference. Surface very uneven; Hedrick further characterizes it as rough.

Stem: Long and curved. (Downing only.)

Calyx: Small. (Downing only.)

Basin: Moderately deep and round. (Downing only.)

Skin: Thin (Hedrick). Dull yellowish-green, traced and freckled with gray or bronze, dotted with specks of the same color. Downing notes a shade of red develops on the sun-exposed side; Hedrick does not mention this coloring.

Flesh: Whitish (Hedrick; Downing does not specify color). Very fine, melting, buttery, and sugary. Juice abundant and slightly acidulated (Hedrick); Downing characterizes the flavor as a little vinous.

Quality: Downing rates it Good. Hedrick calls it an excellent fruit of first quality.

Season

Mid-September (Hedrick). Downing extends the season through October.

Uses

A dessert pear. No specific culinary uses beyond table quality are noted in the sources.

Book Sources

Described in 2 period pomological works

View original book sources (2)

Beurre Kossuth.

A variety from Belgium. Tree of moderate vigor, productive.

Fruit large, very variable in form, generally pyriform obtuse. Surface uneven. Stalk long, curved. Calyx small. Basin moderately deep and round. Skin dull yellowish green, traced and freckled with gray or bronze, dotted with specks of the same color, shade of red in the sun. Flesh very fine, melting, buttery, sugary, a little vinous. Good. September, October.

— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)

Beurré Kossuth.

Mag. Hon. 18:295, fig. 21. 1852.

Leroy Dict. Pom. 1:389, fig. 1867.

Received by André Leroy about 1849 among numerous varieties sent him by many persons for trial. Fruit large, variable in form but always turbinate, swelled at central circumference, surface very uneven, rough; skin thin, dull yellowish-green, traced and freckled with gray or bronze, dotted with specks of the same color; flesh whitish, very fine, melting, buttery, sugary; juice abundant, slightly acidulated; an excellent fruit of first quality; mid-Sept.

— U.P. Hedrick, The Pears of New York (1921)