Bon Parent
PearBon Parent
Origin/History
Bon Parent is a Belgian pear, raised by Simon Bouvier of Jodoigne, Belgium, in 1820 (Hedrick). Downing likewise identifies it as a Belgian pear and notes it is "possessed of many of the best qualities that make up a good fruit." Elliott classes it simply as "Foreign." Hedrick cites its publication in Leroy's Dictionnaire de Pomologie (1:472, fig., 1867) and in Mas's Pomologie Générale (3:117, fig. 155, 1878).
Tree
The tree is a good, vigorous grower with an upright habit (Elliott), an early bearer, and a good bearer (Downing, Elliott). The fruit keeps well (Downing).
Fruit
Size: Medium or below medium (Downing, Elliott); medium (Hedrick, Thomas).
Form: Sources describe the form variously. Downing: ovate, acute pyriform. Hedrick: regular pyriform, bossed at the summit, smooth. Elliott: pyriform. Thomas: regular pyriform, somewhat conic (Tyson-shaped), with the neck tapering into the stalk.
Stem: Stalk medium, inclined, fleshy at the base, or inserted by a lip without depression (Downing); stalk about an inch long (Thomas).
Cavity: Inserted by a lip without depression — that is, no cavity (Downing); not otherwise described.
Calyx: Small and open (Downing).
Basin: Shallow and russeted (Downing); calyx slightly sunk (Thomas).
Skin: Pale or greenish yellow, netted and patched with golden russet, and thickly dotted with russet-gray dots (Downing). Lemon-yellow, dotted with gray-russet, and washed with reddish-brown on the side next the sun (Hedrick). Pale yellow, partly covered with thin russet (Elliott). Yellow, sometimes sprinkled with thin russet, rarely with russet blotches; dots small and numerous (Thomas).
Flesh/Flavor: Yellowish white, buttery, melting, juicy, slightly astringent, and aromatic — "Very good" (Downing). White, fine, semi-melting, juicy, vinous, aromatic — "hardly first" in quality (Hedrick). Juicy, sweet, and "nearly 'best'" (Elliott). Juicy and "often good" (Thomas).
Core/Seeds: Seeds black (Elliott). Core not described in source.
Season
October (Downing, Hedrick, Elliott).
Uses
Not described in source.
Subtypes/Variants
Not described in source.
Other
Thomas illustrates the variety as Fig. 657; Hedrick references figures in Leroy (1867) and Mas (fig. 155, 1878); Leroy's figure is dated 1867.
Book Sources
Described in 4 period pomological works
- Hedrick, The Pears of New York (1921)
- Downing, Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900) — listed as Las Canas
- Elliott, The Western Fruit Book (1865) — listed as Las Canas
- Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903) — listed as Las Canas
View original book sources (4)
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Las Canas.
Bon Parent Bouvier. Bon Parent.
A Belgian Pear, possessed of many of the best qualities that make up a good fruit. The tree is a good grower, an early bearer, and the fruit keeps well.
Fruit medium or below, ovate acute pyriform, pale or greenish yellow, netted and patched with golden russet, and thickly dotted with russet gray dots. Stalk medium, inclined, fleshy at base, or inserted by a lip without depression. Calyx small, open. Basin shallow, russeted. Flesh yellowish white, buttery, melting, juicy, slightly astringent, and aromatic. Very good. October.
— U.P. Hedrick, The Pears of New York (1921)Bon Parent. 1. Leroy Diet. Pom. 1:472, fig. 1867. 2. Mas Pom. Gen. 3:117, fig. 155. 1878.
Raised by Simon Bouvier of Jodoigne, Bel., in 1820. Fruit medium, regular pyriform, bossed at summit, smooth, lemon-yellow, dotted with gray-russet, washed with reddish-brown on the side next the sun; flesh white, fine, semi-melting, juicy, vinous, aromatic; hardly first; Oct.
— F.R. Elliott, The Western Fruit Book (1865)Las Canas.
Foreign. Tree, upright, vigorous, early, good bearer. Fruit, medium or below pyriform, pale yellow, partly covered with thin russet; seeds, black; flesh, juicy, sweet, nearly "best." October.
— John J. Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)Las Canas. Size medium, regular pyriform, somewhat conic (Tyson-shaped); neck tapering into the stalk; skin yellow, sometimes sprinkled with thin russet, rarely with russet blotches, dots small and numerous; stalk an inch long; calyx slightly sunk; flesh juicy, often good. Fig. 657.