Beurré Sterckmans
PearBeurré Sterckmans
Origin/History
Obtained by M. Sterckmans at Louvain, Belgium, before 1820 (Hedrick). A Belgian pear (Downing).
Tree
Vigorous, with stout yellowish-brown shoots; productive (Downing). Not described in Hedrick.
Fruit
Size and Form: Medium. The two sources disagree on form: Downing describes the fruit as oblate and remotely pyriform; Hedrick describes it as oblong-obovate-pyriform.
Stem: About an inch long, stout (Downing).
Cavity: Small, uneven; stem inserted within it (Downing).
Calyx: Open; segments stiff (Downing).
Basin: Broad, uneven, slightly russeted (Downing).
Skin: The two sources give slightly different base colors: Downing describes the skin as green, speckled with russet, and shaded with crimson; Hedrick describes it as delicate greenish-yellow, largely washed with crimson on the side next the sun, with some traces of russet.
Flesh and Flavor: The two sources disagree on color and melt: Downing gives the flesh as yellowish white, fine, very melting, juicy, sugary, vinous, and pleasantly perfumed; Hedrick gives it as white with a greenish tinge, semi-melting, buttery, rich, sugary, vinous, with a fine aroma. Both sources agree on the sugary, vinous character and aromatic quality.
Season
The two sources conflict substantially on season: Downing gives October and November; Hedrick gives January and February.
Uses
Quality rated good to very good (Downing); first quality (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 1 catalog (1911) from England
- James Veitch & Sons , Ltd., Royal Exotic Nursery, Chelsea, London (also Coombe Wood, Langley, and Feltham) , England — 1911
View original book sources (2)
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Beurre Sterkmans.
Doyenne Sterkmans. Belle Alliance. Calebasse Sterkmans.
A Belgian Pear. Tree vigorous, with stout yellowish-brown shoots, productive.
Fruit medium, oblate, remotely pyriform. Skin green, speckled with russet, and shaded with crimson. Stalk about an inch long, stout, inserted in a small, uneven cavity. Calyx open. Segments stiff, set in a broad, uneven basin, slightly russeted. Flesh yellowish white, fine, very melting, juicy, sugary, vinous, pleasantly perfumed. Good to very good. October and November.
— U.P. Hedrick, The Pears of New York (1921)Beurré Sterckmans.
- Ann. Pom. Belge 4:51, fig. 1856. 2. Hogg Fruit Man. 529. 1884. Doyenne Sterckmans. 3. Leroy Dict. Pom. 2:89, fig. 1869.
Obtained by M. Sterckmans at Louvain, Bel., before 1820. Fruit medium, oblong-obovate-pyriform, delicate greenish-yellow, largely washed with crimson on side next the sun, some traces of russet; flesh white, with a greenish tinge, semi-melting, buttery, rich, sugary, vinous, fine aroma; first; Jan. and Feb.