Bon Chrétien Fondante
PearBon Chrétien Fondante
Origin/History
A Flemish pear (Downing). Elliott lists it simply as "Foreign." Known under numerous French and Flemish synonyms reflecting its wide diffusion across European pomological literature.
Tree
Vigor and habits: Vigorous, hardy, and productive (Elliott). Bears early and abundantly (Downing). Grows well on both Quince and Pear rootstock (Elliott).
Shoots: Young shoots slender, diverging, olive gray (Downing).
Fruit
Size: Downing describes the fruit as "pretty large"; Elliott describes it as "medium." The two sources conflict on this point.
Form: Roundish obovate, regularly formed (Downing). Elliott describes it as roundish oblong oval — a slight divergence in form description.
Stem: Three-fourths of an inch long, curved, inserted in a slight depression (Downing). Elliott concurs it is medium length and curved.
Cavity: A slight depression at the stem insertion (Downing).
Calyx: Small (both sources agree). Set in a narrow hollow (Downing); partly closed (Elliott).
Basin: Furrowed (Elliott). Not described in Downing.
Skin: Pale green, sprinkled with small russet dots, and considerably covered with russet (Downing). Elliott describes the ground color as yellowish green, with brownish red in the sun, and much russet — adding the sun-exposure coloration not mentioned by Downing.
Flesh: Yellowish white (Downing); white (Elliott). Gritty around the core (Downing); a little gritty (Elliott). Described as coarse by Elliott, tender by Downing — a conflict in texture characterization. Both agree it is melting and juicy. Downing adds: "exceedingly juicy" with "a rich and pleasant flavor."
Core/Seeds: Core large (Elliott). Flesh gritty around the core (Downing). Not further described.
Flavor: Rich and pleasant (Downing). Both sources rate it "very good." Downing adds that in good seasons it is "first in quality" and describes the flavor as "refreshing" and "agreeable," with the fruit "abounding with juice."
Season
October (Downing). September–October (Elliott).
Uses
Not described in source.
Subtypes/Variants
Not described in source.
Other
Thomas (1903) provides only a page reference (p. 526) with no descriptive text.
Book Sources
Described in 3 period pomological works
View original book sources (3)
— 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.
— 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.
— John J. Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)Bon Chrétien Fondante, p. 526.