Bonne de la Chapelle
PearBonne de la Chapelle
Origin/History
A wilding found in 1845 in the wood of La Chapelle-sur-Erdre, near Nantes, France. Hedrick (1921) identifies the finder as Jacques Jalais; Downing (1900) describes him only as "a gardener." The variety was described in America by Downing in 1869. The primary European description is in Mas, Le Verger 2:231, fig. 114 (1866–73). The name Beurré de la Chapelle also appears in the literature.
Tree
Moderately vigorous and productive. (Downing.)
No further tree characteristics described in source.
Fruit
Size: Medium.
Form: The two sources conflict. Downing describes the form as roundish oblate to oblate pyriform. Hedrick describes it as turbinate, short and swelled, and rather irregular in contour.
Stem: Long, slender, and curved. (Downing.)
Cavity: Not described in source.
Calyx: Open. (Downing.)
Basin: Not described in source.
Skin: The two sources differ in detail. Downing describes the skin as greenish yellow, with nettings and patches of russet and distinct brown dots. Hedrick describes it as green, sprinkled with dots of a deeper shade of green, with some russet blush on the exposed side.
Flesh/Flavor: The two sources conflict substantially. Downing describes the flesh as yellowish, moderately juicy, and rather coarse, rating the variety Good. Hedrick describes the flesh as a little greenish, fine, buttery, and melting, with abundant sweet juice, rating it first quality.
Core/Seeds: Not described in source.
Season
The two sources conflict. Downing gives November–December. Hedrick gives end of August.
Uses
Not described in source.
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)Bonne de la Chapelle.
Beurré de la Chapelle.
This variety was found by a gardener in the wood of La Chapelle-sur-Erdre, near Nantes, in 1845. Tree moderately vigorous and productive.
Fruit medium, varying in form from roundish oblate to oblate pyriform. Skin greenish yellow, with nettings and patches of russet, and distinct brown dots. Stalk long, slender, curved. Calyx open. Flesh yellowish, moderately juicy, rather coarse. Good. November, December.
— U.P. Hedrick, The Pears of New York (1921)Bonne de la Chapelle.
i. Mas Le Verger 2:231, fig. 114. 1866-73.
A wilding found by Jacques Jalais, Nantes, Fr., in 1845. It was described in this country by Downing in 1869. Fruit medium, turbinate, short and swelled, rather irregular in contour, green, sprinkled with dots of a deeper shade of green, some russet blush on the exposed side; flesh a little greenish, fine, buttery, melting, with abundant sweet juice, first; end of Aug.