Bon Chrétien Fondante
PearBon Chrétien Fondante
Origin/History
A Flemish pear (Downing). Elliott classes it simply as "Foreign." In good seasons it ranks first in quality, and it bears early and abundantly (Downing).
Tree
Vigorous, hardy, and productive on both Quince and Pear rootstock (Elliott). Young shoots slender, diverging, olive gray (Downing).
Fruit
Size
Elliott describes the fruit as medium; Downing as pretty large. These accounts conflict and may reflect seasonal or cultural variation.
Form
Elliott: roundish oblong oval. Downing: roundish obovate, regularly formed. The two descriptions are closely related but not identical.
Stem
Medium length and curved (Elliott). Downing specifies three-fourths of an inch long, curved, inserted in a slight depression.
Cavity
A slight depression at the stem insertion (Downing). Elliott does not independently describe the cavity, though the stem is noted as curved.
Calyx
Small, partly closed, set in a narrow hollow (Elliott and Downing combined; both agree the calyx is small).
Basin
Furrowed (Elliott); described by Downing as a narrow hollow.
Skin
Yellowish green, turning brownish red on the sun-exposed side, and much covered with russet (Elliott). Downing describes the ground color as pale green, sprinkled with small russet dots and considerably covered with russet overall.
Flesh and Flavor
Flesh white (Elliott) to yellowish white (Downing); coarse (Elliott), melting, exceedingly juicy, and tender (Elliott and Downing agree on melting and juicy character). Gritty near the core (both sources). Elliott notes "a little gritty"; Downing specifies gritty specifically round the core. Flavor rich, pleasant, and agreeable, abounding with juice; described as "very good" by both sources. Downing characterizes the flavor as refreshing.
Core and Seeds
Core large (Elliott). Flesh is notably gritty in the vicinity of the core (Downing).
Season
September–October (Elliott); October (Downing).
Uses
Dessert fruit of first quality in favorable seasons (Downing). Rated "very good" by both Elliott and Downing.
Subtypes/Variants
Not described in source.
Other
Thomas (1903) lists Bon Chrétien Fondante at p. 526 without description:
Bon Chrétien Fondante, p. 526.
Description absent; variety present as a catalog entry or cross-reference only.
Book Sources
Described in 3 period pomological works
View original book sources (3)
— F.R. Elliott, The Western Fruit Book (1865)Bon Chretien Fondante.
Foreign. Tree, vigorous, hardy, productive on Quince or Pear. Fruit, medium, roundish oblong oval, yellowish green, brownish red in sun, and much russet ; stem, medium, curved ; calyx, small, partly closed ; basin, furrowed ; core, large ; flesh, white, coarse, melting, juicy, a little gritty ; "very good." September, October.
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Bon Chrétien Fondante.
Bon Chrétien de Bruxelles. Bon Chrétien Musqué Fondante. Pioulice. Bugiarda. Bon Chrétien Fondante Musqué. Petit Musqué. Bon Chrétien d'Été Musqué.
A Flemish Pear, abounding with juice, and having a refreshing, agreeable flavor. In good seasons it is first in quality, and it bears early and abundantly. Young shoots slender, diverging, olive gray.
Fruit pretty large, roundish obovate, regularly formed. Skin pale green, sprinkled with small russet dots, and considerably covered with russet. Stalk three-fourths of an inch long, curved, inserted in a slight depression. Calyx small, set in a narrow hollow. Flesh yellowish white, gritty round the core, exceedingly juicy, tender, and melting, with a rich and pleasant flavor. Very good. October.
— John J. Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)Bon Chrétien Fondante, p. 526.