Bezi des Veterans
PearBezi des Veterans
Origin/History
A Belgian pear raised from seed by Van Mons about 1830. Bibliographic references include Mas, Le Verger 1:127, fig. 62 (1866–73); Leroy, Dict. Pom. 1:289, fig. (1867); and Thomas, Am. Fruit Cult. 716 (1897).
Tree
Vigorous, thrifty habit and productive. Hedrick describes the tree as a prolific bearer. Young wood olive brown, with many specks.
Fruit
Size and Form: Large. Downing describes the form as obtuse pyriform; Hedrick describes it as turbinate.
Stem: Not described in source.
Cavity: Not described in source.
Calyx: Not described in source.
Basin: Not described in source.
Skin: Downing: light yellow, thickly sprinkled with gray dots, with slight patches of russet. Hedrick: clear yellow, very much dotted with grayish-brown specks of different sizes. (The two sources agree on the yellow ground and heavy gray-brown dotting; Downing alone notes russet patches.)
Flesh/Flavor: The two sources conflict. Downing describes the flesh as firm and not tender, suited chiefly for cooking. Hedrick describes the flesh as white, semi-melting, fine, and buttery, with sufficient sweet juice and slight acidity, rating it second quality for dessert but first quality for stewing.
Core/Seeds: Not described in source.
Season
Hedrick: ripens in October and lasts occasionally even until April. Downing: December to February. The ranges are broadly consistent; Hedrick's range is wider.
Uses
Primarily a cooking and stewing pear. Hedrick rates it first for stewing and second for dessert. Downing considers it chiefly for cooking.
Subtypes/Variants
Not described in source.
Other
Not described in source.
Book Sources
Described in 2 period pomological works
View original book sources (2)
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)BEZI DES VETERANS.
Banneau. Des Veterans.
A Belgian Pear, of vigorous thrifty habit, and productive. Young wood olive brown, with many specks.
Fruit large, obtuse pyriform. Skin light yellow, thickly sprinkled with gray dots, and slight patches of russet. Flesh firm, not tender; chiefly for cooking. December to February.
— U.P. Hedrick, The Pears of New York (1921)Besi des Vétérans.
- Mas Le Verger 1:127, fig. 62. 1866-73.
- Leroy Diet. Pom. 1:289, fig. 1867. Veterans.
- Thomas Am. Fruit Cult. 716. 1897.
Raised from seed by Van Mons about 1830. Fruit large, turbinate, clear yellow, very much dotted with grayish-brown specks of different sizes; flesh white, semi-melting, fine, buttery, with sufficient sweet juice, slightly acid; second for dessert, but first for stewing; ripens in Oct. and lasts occasionally even till Apr. The tree is a prolific bearer.