British Queen
PearBritish Queen
Origin / History
An English pear, raised at Frogmore, supposed (Downing) to be from seed of Marie Louise; Hedrick states it as raised from seed of Marie Louise by Thomas Ingram at Frogmore, Eng., and first distributed in 1863. Bunyard gives the raiser as M. Ingram of the Royal Gardens, Windsor, "naturally considered by the Prince Consort to be the best of all pears", and adds that this old variety is occasionally met with. Early citations: Jour. Hort. N. S. 3:546, 1862; Fl. and Pom. 1863, 80; Hogg, Fruit Man. 537, 1884.
Tree
Tree a vigorous grower. Young wood very strong, clear rich reddish brown. Leaf medium, elliptical, down hanging. Fertility moderate (Bunyard).
Fruit
Size: Large (Hogg); rather large, 4 by 3 (Bunyard).
Form: Obovate pyriform, the outline undulating and bossed (Hogg); round conical, even (Bunyard).
Stem: Stout, obliquely inserted; 1 inch long (Bunyard).
Cavity: Round, narrow.
Calyx: Rather small, with short, narrow segments. Eye very small, closed (Bunyard).
Basin: Even, rather deep (Bunyard).
Skin: Smooth, very smooth in Bunyard's phrase, almost entirely covered with a thin coat of cinnamon-colored russet; ground golden (Hedrick) to pale brownish yellow (Bunyard). On the side next the sun a blush of rosy crimson, "encrimsoned" (Hedrick); Bunyard gives only an occasional slight flush.
Dots: Not described in source.
Flesh and flavor: Yellowish white (pale yellow, Bunyard), very fine-grained, buttery, melting, rich, sugary; Bunyard gives flavor sweet and brisk. Hedrick adds the flavor of the Marie Louise and rates it "first".
Core and seeds: Not described in source.
Season
October, extending into November (Hogg); Bunyard and Hedrick give October.
Uses
Dessert (Bunyard).
Subtypes / Variants
Not described in source.
Other
Not described in source.
Book Sources
Described in 3 period pomological works
Nursery Catalog Sources
Found in 1 catalog (1901) from Illinois
- Benjamin Buckman (personal inventory) , Farmingdale , Illinois — 1901
View original book sources (3)
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)British Queen.
An English Pear, raised at Frogmore, supposed from seed of Marie Louise. Tree a vigorous grower. Young wood very strong, clear rich reddish brown. It is described in Hogg as follows:—
"Fruit large, obovate pyriform, the outline undulating and bossed. Skin smooth, and almost entirely covered with a thin coat of cinnamon colored russet, but on the side next the sun it has a blush of rosy crimson. Calyx rather small, with short, narrow segments. Stalk stout, obliquely inserted in a round, narrow cavity. Flesh yellowish white, very fine-grained, buttery, melting, rich, sugary. October, November."
— E.A. Bunyard, A Handbook of Hardy Fruits (1920)BRITISH QUEEN. Fl. and Pom. 1863. 80. F. Reine d'Angleterre. G. Britische Königin. Dessert, October, rather large, 4 by 3, round conical, even. Skin, covered very smooth russet. Colour, pale brownish yellow with occasional slight flush. Flesh, pale yellow, very fine texture, flavour sweet and brisk. Eye, very small, closed in an even rather deep basin. Stem, 1 inch, stout, in a narrow cavity. Growth, vigorous; fertility moderate. Leaf, medium, eliptical, down hanging. Origin, raised by M. Ingram of the Royal Gardens, Windsor, and naturally considered by the Prince Consort to be the best of all pears. This old variety is occasionally met with.
— U.P. Hedrick, The Pears of New York (1921)British Queen.
- Jour. Hort. N. S. 3:546. 1862.
- Hogg Fruit Man. 537. 1884.
Raised by Thomas Ingram from seed of Marie Louise at Frogmore, Eng., and first distributed in 1863. Fruit large, obovate-pyriform, bossed, golden, much covered with cinnamon-colored russet, encrimsoned on side next the sun; flesh yellowish-white, fine-grained, buttery, melting, rich, sugary, having the flavor of the Marie Louise; first; Oct.