Cassante de Mars
PearOrigin/History
A seedling raised by Major Espéren at Mechlin (Malines), Belgium, about 1840. Downing notes it was "said to be a seedling of Major Esperen" and that it originated from Malines, while Hedrick confirms Espéren as the raiser and gives the approximate date. Downing remarks that as he received it, it "proved identical with Winter Nelis," though he treats it as potentially "a distinct sort" and provides a separate description copied from the Album de Pomologie.
Tree
Vigorous.
Fruit
Size: Medium (Hedrick).
Form: Globular-turbinate (Hedrick). Obovate (Thomas). Downing notes the fruit "resembles Doyenne blanc." The fruit is borne in clusters (Downing; Elliott).
Stem: Not described in source.
Cavity: Not described in source.
Calyx: Not described in source.
Basin: Not described in source.
Skin: Smooth, bright green, becoming golden yellow at maturity, striped and shaded with fawn (Downing; Elliott). Hedrick describes it as orange-yellow, dotted, stained and marbled with fawn, bronzed on the side exposed to the sun.
Flesh/Flavor: When in full perfection, half melting, juicy, sugary, vinous, and well perfumed (Downing; Elliott). Hedrick describes the flesh as whitish, semi-fine, breaking, gritty about the core; juice abundant, vinous, sugary, rather aromatic, richly flavored. Thomas: "juicy, rich, vinous, perfumed." Hedrick rates the quality as second.
Core/Seeds: Gritty about the core (Hedrick).
Season
Winter and spring. Downing and Elliott give December to April. Hedrick says winter and spring. Thomas simply notes "Winter."
Uses
Not described in source.
Subtypes/Variants
Not described in source.
Other
Hedrick cites: (1) Mas Le Verger 1:75, fig. 44 (1866–73); (2) Leroy Dict. Pom. 1:530, fig. (1867). Downing's description is copied from the Album de Pomologie (Al. Pom.), as is Elliott's, both being essentially the same text.
Book Sources
Described in 4 period pomological works
View original book sources (4)
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Cassante de Mars.
A variety from Malines, said to be a seedling of Major Esperen. It may be a distinct sort, but as we have received, it has proved identical with Winter Nelis. We copy description from the Album Pomology:—
"Tree vigorous.
"Fruit, which is borne in clusters, resembles Doyenne blanc. Skin smooth, bright green, becoming golden yellow at maturity, striped and shaded with fawn. Flesh when in full perfection is half melting, juicy, sugary, vinous, and well perfumed. Ripe December to April."
— U.P. Hedrick, The Pears of New York (1921)Cassante de Mars.
- Mas Le Verger 1:75, fig. 44. 1866-73.
- Leroy Dict. Pom. 1:530, fig. 1867.
A little-known seedling raised by Major Espéren, Mechlin, Bel., about 1840. Fruit medium, globular-turbinate, orange-yellow, dotted, stained and marbled with fawn, bronzed on the side exposed to the sun; flesh whitish, semi-fine, breaking, gritty about the core; juice abundant, vinous, sugary, rather aromatic, richly flavored: second; winter and spring.
— F.R. Elliott, The Western Fruit Book (1865)Cassante de Mars.
Foreign. Tree, vigorous. Fruit, which is borne in clusters, resembles Doyenne blanc ; skin, smooth, bright green, becoming golden yellow at maturity, striped and shaded with fawn ; flesh, when in full perfection is half melting, juicy, sugary, vinous, and well perfumed. December to April. (Al. Pom.)
— John J. Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)Cassante de Mars. Obovate, yellow; juicy, rich, vinous, perfumed. Winter. Belgian.