Capsheaf
PearOrigin/History
A native of Rhode Island, introduced by S. H. Smith, an amateur horticulturist. According to Hedrick, the variety was already much cultivated in Rhode Island by 1837.
Tree
Young shoots stout, upright/erect, yellowish brown. Wood yellowish (Elliott). Very productive (Thomas). Hardy (Elliott).
Fruit
Size: Medium (Downing, Hedrick, Elliott). Thomas describes it as rather small.
Form: Downing and Hedrick describe the shape as oblong obovate pyriform. Elliott describes it as roundish obovate. Thomas describes it as short obovate, wide at crown, somewhat conic, or with a rounded taper to the stalk.
Skin: Deep yellow, with patches and traces of cinnamon russet (Downing, Hedrick). Elliott describes the skin as yellow, mostly covered with cinnamon russet. Thomas describes the surface as deep yellow, mostly russeted.
Stem: An inch long, stout, inclined, inserted in a shallow hollow (Downing). Short (Elliott). An inch long, stout, slightly sunk (Thomas).
Cavity: Shallow hollow (Downing). Slightly sunk (Thomas).
Calyx: Small (Downing, Thomas). Closed (Elliott).
Basin: Slightly sunk (Downing). Rather large (Thomas).
Flesh/Flavor: White, juicy, and melting, very sweet and pleasant; rated Good (Downing). White, juicy, melting, not highly flavored but very sweet and agreeable; rated good (Hedrick). Yellowish white, fine, melting, juicy, sweet; rated "very good" (Elliott). Melting, juicy, buttery, mild, sweet, good, of second quality (Thomas).
Core/Seeds: Core large (Elliott). Not described in other sources.
Season
October (Downing, Elliott). September and October (Hedrick). Mid-autumn (Thomas).
Uses
Not described in source.
Subtypes/Variants
Not described in source.
Book Sources
Described in 4 period pomological works
View original book sources (4)
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Capsheaf.
Caps Heaf.
A native of Rhode Island. It is a very agreeable fruit. Young shoots stout, upright, yellowish brown.
Fruit of medium size, oblong obovate pyriform. Skin deep yellow, with patches and traces of cinnamon russet. Stalk an inch long, stout, inclined, inserted in a shallow hollow. Calyx small. Basin slightly sunk. Flesh white, juicy, and melting, very sweet and pleasant. Good. October.
— U.P. Hedrick, The Pears of New York (1921)Capsheaf.
- Mag. Hort. 3:52. 1837.
- Ann. Pom. Belge 7:77, fig. 1859.
Introduced by S. H. Smith, an amateur horticulturist of Rhode Island where it was already much cultivated in 1837. Fruit medium, oblong-obovate-pyriform, deep yellow, with patches and traces of cinnamon-russet; flesh white, juicy, melting, not highly flavored but very sweet and agreeable; good; Sept. and Oct.
— F.R. Elliott, The Western Fruit Book (1865)Capsheaf.
American. Native of Rhode Island. Tree, hardy, wood yellowish. Fruit, medium, roundish obovate, yellow, mostly covered with cinnamon russet; stem, short; calyx, closed; core, large; flesh, yellowish white, fine, melting, juicy, sweet; "very good." October.
— John J. Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)Capsheaf. Rather small, short obovate, wide at crown, somewhat conic, or with a rounded taper to the stalk; surface deep yellow, mostly russeted; stalk an inch long, stout, slightly sunk; calyx small, basin rather large; flesh melting, juicy, buttery, mild, sweet, good, of second quality. Ripens mid-autumn. Shoots erect, stout, yellowish-brown; very productive. Rhode Island.