Bronx
PearOrigin/History
Raised about 1850 by James Swain of Bronxville, N.Y. Downing gives the raiser's name as James P. Swain; Hedrick gives it as James R. Swain. Hedrick cites Downing's Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1869) as the earliest published reference.
Tree
Upright pyramidal grower. Young shoots reddish brown.
Fruit
Size and Form: Medium. Obovate pyriform.
Stem: Long, rather slender, curved, set in a small cavity.
Cavity: Small.
Calyx: Small, open. Segments short, erect.
Basin: Small, uneven, and much russeted.
Skin: Dull greenish yellow, partially netted and patched with russet, and thickly sprinkled with russet and brown dots. (Hedrick describes more briefly as greenish-yellow, netted and stained with russet.)
Flesh/Flavor: Whitish, juicy, melting, sweet, slightly perfumed. Quality rated good to very good by Downing; very good by Hedrick.
Season
Early September / first half of September.
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)Bronx.
A new American Pear, raised in 1850, by James P. Swain, of Bronxville, N. Y. The tree is an upright pyramidal grower, with reddish brown young shoots.
Fruit medium, obovate pyriform. Skin dull greenish yellow, partially netted and patched with russet, and thickly sprinkled with russet and brown dots. Stalk long, rather slender, curved, and set in a small cavity. Calyx small, open. Segments short, erect. Basin small, uneven, and much russeted. Flesh whitish, juicy, melting, sweet, a little perfumed. Good to very good. Early September.
— U.P. Hedrick, The Pears of New York (1921)Bronx.
- Downing Fr. Trees Am. 710. 1869. Raised by James R. Swain, Bronxville, N. Y., about 1850. Fruit medium, obovate-pyriform, greenish-yellow, netted and stained with russet; flesh whitish, juicy, melting, sweet, slightly perfumed flavor; very good; first half of Sept.