Canandaigua
PearCanandaigua
Origin / History
American, from Central New York (Elliott). Downing calls the origin uncertain and says the pear was supposed to have been brought from Connecticut to Canandaigua about the year 1806. Hedrick names Judge Atwater of Canandaigua, New York, as having brought cions of this pear from Connecticut in 1806. It was exhibited at the Pomological Congress in New York in 1849 under the name Catherine. One or more pears were already known by that name, so it was "deemed well to change its name to avoid confusion" (Hedrick).
Tree
Vigorous and productive. Elliott calls it an upright grower on quince or pear. Shoots strong, erect, light purplish-red (Thomas).
Fruit
Size: Rather large to large. Hedrick alone calls it medium.
Form: Elongated acute-pyriform, somewhat irregular to irregular, Bartlett-shaped. Surface uneven, resembling Bartlett (Downing).
Stem: Medium or rather short, inclined or oblique.
Cavity: Not described in source.
Calyx: Open (Downing).
Basin: Small (Thomas), narrow and deep (Downing).
Skin: Lemon-yellow, sometimes with a shade of red on the sunny side.
Dots: Not described in source.
Flesh and flavor: Flesh white or whitish, juicy, melting, buttery. Elliott and Hedrick call it fine; Downing calls it coarse. Flavor vinous, sugary, rather rich to high. Elliott and Downing rate it "good"; Hedrick calls it "handsome and excellent."
Core and seeds: Not described in source.
Season
September.
Uses
Not described in source.
Subtypes / Variants
Not described in source.
Other
Hedrick's references are Mag. Hort. 16:36, 153 (1850) and Downing, Fr. Trees Am. 714 (1869).
Book Sources
Described in 4 period pomological works
View original book sources (4)
— F.R. Elliott, The Western Fruit Book (1865)Canandaigua. Catherine. American. From Central New York. Fruit, large, resembling Bartlett; flesh, white, fine, juicy; "good." Tree, vigorous, upright grower on Quince or Pear, productive. September.
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Canandaigua.
Catherine.
Origin uncertain, supposed to have been brought from Connecticut to Canandaigua about the year 1806, vigorous and productive.
Fruit rather large, irregular, elongated acute pyriform. Surface uneven, resembling Bartlett. Skin lemon-yellow, sometimes a shade of red in the sun. Stalk medium, or rather short, inclined. Calyx open. Basin narrow and deep. Flesh whitish, coarse, melting, vinous. Good. September.
— John J. Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)Canandaigua. Rather large, pyriform, somewhat irregular (Bartlett-shaped); lemon yellow; stalk rather short, oblique; basin small; flesh buttery, melting, rather rich. September. Shoots strong, erect, light purplish-red.
— U.P. Hedrick, The Pears of New York (1921)Canandaigua.
i. Mag. Hort. 16:36, 153. 1850. 2. Downing Fr. Trees Am. 714. 1869.
Judge Atwater of Canandaigua, New York, brought cions of this pear from Connecticut in 1806. It was exhibited at the Pomological Congress in New York in 1849 under the name Catherine but there being already one or more pears known by that name it was deemed well to change its name to avoid confusion.
Fruit medium, irregular, elongated-acute-pyriform, lemon-yellow, sometimes red on the sunny side; flesh white, fine, melting and buttery, sugary, high flavor; handsome and excellent; Sept.