CALVILLE DES FEMMES
AppleCALVILLE DES FEMMES
Origin/History
Origin uncertain, but very probably raised about 1850 in the garden of the Horticultural Society of Angers, France (Bunyard). Also known in German as Frauen Calville.
Tree
Growth very vigorous, making a roundish tree (Bunyard). A vigorous grower, bearing fruit abundantly (Veitch).
Leaf rather large, very dark, upfolded, down hanging, sharply serrate (Bunyard).
Fruit
Size
Bunyard describes the fruit as very large, measuring 3½ inches by 3¼ inches. Veitch describes it as large to medium and large.
Form
Round, conical, uneven (Bunyard).
Stem
Usually very short (Bunyard).
Cavity
Wide and deep (Bunyard).
Calyx
Large, closed or open (Bunyard).
Basin
Very large, ribbed (Bunyard).
Skin
Green to pale yellow, often with a brownish-red flush (Bunyard).
Flesh/Flavor
White, with greenish veins noticeable throughout; acid; firm (Bunyard). Veitch adds that the flesh is juicy — a detail not noted by Bunyard.
Core/Seeds
Not described in source.
Season
Picked in October, keeping in store until May (Veitch). Bunyard similarly classes it as a culinary variety available until June.
Uses
Culinary (Bunyard).
Subtypes/Variants
Not described in source.
Other
Not described in source.
Book Sources
Described in 1 period pomological work
Nursery Catalog Sources
Found in 3 catalogs (1900–1911) from England
- George Bunyard & Co. , Royal Nurseries, Maidstone, Kent , England — 1900
- Central Experimental Farm , Dominion Department of Agriculture, Agassiz, British Columbia (under test; Bulletin No. 3, Second Series) — 1900
- James Veitch & Sons , Ltd., Royal Exotic Nursery, Chelsea, London (also Coombe Wood, Langley, and Feltham) , England — 1911
View original book sources (2)
— E.A. Bunyard, A Handbook of Hardy Fruits (1920)CALVILLE DES FEMMES. G., Frauen Calville. Culinary, till June, very large, 3½ by 3¼, round, conical, uneven. Colour, green to pale yellow, often with a brownish-red flush. Flesh, white in which greenish veins are noticeable, acid, firm. Eye, large, closed or open in a very large ribbed basin. Stem, usually very short, in a wide, deep cavity. Growth, very vigorous, making a roundish tree. Leaf, rather large, very dark, upfolded, down hanging, sharply serrate. Origin, uncertain, but very probably raised about 1850 in the garden of the Horticultural Society of Angers, France.
— James Veitch & Sons, Veitch's Fruit Trees (1911) (1911)Calville des Femmes, large medium and large, a vigorous grower, flesh firm and juicy, bearing fruit abundantly. Oct. & May