Brockworth Park

Pear

Brockworth Park

Origin/History

Brockworth Park originated in France, discovered at Ezee near Loches in 1838 by M. Jamain of Paris. It is referenced in the Herefordshire Pomona, Vol. II, p. 66. The variety is also known in France as Bonne d'Ezee and in Germany as Gute von Ezee. Bunyard notes that the British name (Brockworth Park) is correctly a synonym for the French name, which is considered primary by some authorities. Despite its quality, Bunyard regards it as "rather undeservedly in the background."

Tree

Growth habit is upright spreading, making a large tree (Bunyard). Hardy and vigorous (Veitch). Does well on dry upland soils in the lake regions (Budd & Hansen). Leaf medium, oval, regularly serrate (Bunyard).

Fruit

Size

Large to very large (Budd & Hansen). Rather large; Bunyard gives measurements of 3½ inches by 2½ inches.

Form

Oblong obovate (Budd & Hansen). Long oval, flattened at the stem end, even (Bunyard).

Stem

About one inch long, stout, and obliquely inserted (Budd & Hansen). Described by Bunyard as very stout, fleshy, one inch, obliquely inserted — sources agree on all stem characteristics.

Cavity

Not described in source.

Calyx

Eye set in a very shallow basin (Bunyard).

Basin

Very shallow (Bunyard).

Skin

Rather thick, a little rough, covered with russet dots (Bunyard). Color is described as greenish yellow with very faint flush and stripes (Bunyard); Budd & Hansen describe the ground color as pale yellow, slightly flushed and streaked with crimson on the sunny side. The two sources agree on a yellow ground with flush and striping, but differ on intensity: Bunyard characterizes the flush as very faint, while Budd & Hansen describe it as a visible crimson flush and streak.

Flesh and Flavor

Flesh white (Budd & Hansen) or yellowish white (Bunyard). Delicate, buttery, melting, juicy, rich, and vinous; rated very good (Budd & Hansen). Rich and aromatic, melting (Veitch).

Core and Seeds

Not described in source.

Season

Dessert pear of early September (Bunyard). Veitch gives the season as September and October, suggesting use through mid-autumn.

Uses

Dessert (Bunyard, Veitch). Veitch describes it as a fine late pear that is "handy." Bunyard notes the quality is quite good.

Other

Veitch's catalog entry carries the notation "P.D.C." — meaning not defined in the source text, reproduced here for reference. Bunyard's entry cites the Herefordshire Pomona as the primary bibliographic reference.

Book Sources

Described in 2 period pomological works

Nursery Catalog Sources

Found in 4 catalogs (1894–1911) from England, Illinois

The Vineland Nurseries (Kelsey & Co. , Proprietors), St. Joseph, Missouri (Office: 13th and Atchison Sts., 2 Blocks East of the Citizens St. Car Line) — 1894 — listed as Brockworth Park, or Bonny D'Ezee
Central Experimental Farm , Dominion Department of Agriculture, Agassiz, British Columbia (under test; Bulletin No. 3, Second Series) — 1900
Benjamin Buckman (personal inventory) , Farmingdale , Illinois — 1901
James Veitch & Sons , Ltd., Royal Exotic Nursery, Chelsea, London (also Coombe Wood, Langley, and Feltham) , England — 1911

View original book sources (3)

Brockworth Park. — Large to very large, oblong obovate; color pale yellow, slightly flushed and streaked with crimson on sunny side; stem about one inch long, stout and obliquely inserted. Flesh white, delicate, buttery, melting, juicy, rich, vinous, very good. Does well on dry upland soils in the lake regions. England.

— J.L. Budd & N.E. Hansen, American Horticultural Manual, Part II: Systematic Pomology (1914)

BROCKWORTH PARK. Her. Pom. II., 66. F. Bonne d'Ezee. G. Gute von Ezee. Dessert, early September, rather large, 3½ by 2½, long oval, flattened at stem, even. Skin, rather thick, a little rough, covered with russet dots. Colour, greenish yellow with very faint flush and stripes. Flesh, yellowish white. Eye, in a very shallow basin. Stem, very stout, fleshy, 1 inch, obliquely inserted. Growth, upright spreading, making a large tree. Leaf, medium, oval, regularly serrate. Origin, discovered at Ezee near Loches, France, in 1838, by M. Jamain, of Paris. A pear of quite good quality and rather undeservedly in the background. The British name is correctly a synonym.

— E.A. Bunyard, A Handbook of Hardy Fruits (1920)

large, handsome, rich and aromatic, melting, handy Fine late pear. Tree hardy and vigorous. P.D.C. Fine appearance Sept. & Oct.

— James Veitch & Sons, Veitch's Fruit Trees (1911) (1911)

Belle de Zees Belle des Zees Belle et Bonne d'Ezee Belle et Bonne des Haies Belle-Excellente Bonne d'Ezee Bonne de Zees Bonne des Haies Bonne des Zees Bonne-et-Belle d'Ezée Bonny D'Ezee Gute von Ezee Duc de Brabant