Bishop's Thumb
PearBishop's Thumb
Origin/History
An English pear with records dating to at least 1629 (Parkinson, Paradisus Terrestris). The variety appeared on the American Pomological Society's report of 1854 and was subsequently placed on that society's list of rejected fruits. Hedrick notes it as a pear "of variable color and quality," though rated an excellent dessert pear by some authorities.
Tree
Hardy, a very abundant bearer. (Hedrick.) Other characteristics not described in sources.
Fruit
Size: Rather large.
Form: Long and oddly shaped. Downing describes it as oblong and narrow, tapering irregularly; Hedrick adds pyriform and undulating; Thomas characterizes the form as conic oblong.
Stem: Attached with no cavity or depression at the base. (Hedrick.)
Cavity: Not described in sources.
Calyx: Small, open. (Hedrick.)
Basin: Not described in sources.
Skin: Dark yellowish-green (Downing, Hedrick), with a russet-red cheek (Downing, Hedrick) — Thomas describes this simply as a russet cheek and the ground color as yellowish-green. Hedrick notes the surface is covered with numerous large, russety dots.
Flesh/Flavor: Flesh greenish-yellow (Hedrick), melting, juicy, with a vinous flavor. Downing and Thomas both note a slightly astringent quality. Quality rated good (Downing) to good/very good (Hedrick).
Season
October.
Uses
Dessert. (Hedrick.)
Subtypes/Variants
Not described in sources.
Other
Not described in sources.
Book Sources
Described in 3 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 (3)
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Bishop's Thumb.
A long, oddly shaped English Pear.
Fruit rather large, oblong and narrow, and tapering irregularly. Skin dark yellowish green, having a russet red cheek. Flesh juicy, melting, with a vinous flavor, somewhat astringent. Good. October.
— U.P. Hedrick, The Pears of New York (1921)Bishop Thumb, i. Parkinson Par. Ter. 592. 1629. 2. Am. Pom. Soc. Rpt. 237. 1854. 3. Leroy Dict. Pom. 1:441, figs. 1867. 4. Downing Fr. Trees Am. 702. 1869.
A long, oddly-shaped English pear of variable color and quality, rated as an excellent dessert pear by some; placed on the list of rejected fruits by the American Pomological Society. Tree hardy, very abundant bearer. Fruit rather large, oblong, narrow, pyriform, undulating; color dark yellowish-green, covered with numerous large, russety dots and having a russet-red cheek; calyx small, open; stalk attached with no depression; flesh greenish-yellow, melting, juicy, vinous; good to very good; Oct.
— John J. Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)Bishop's Thumb. Rather large, conic oblong, yellowish-green, with a russet cheek; juicy, melting, vinous, slightly astringent. October. English.