Chancellor
PearOrigin/History
The Chancellor pear is said to have originated in Germantown, Pennsylvania, on the grounds of a Mr. Chancellor, from whom it takes its name (Hedrick). At the Second Session of the American Pomological Congress in 1853, it was placed on the list of pears that promised well (Hedrick). Elliott classes it as "probably a native of Pennsylvania" and records it in historical literature under the alternate names Green's Germantown and Early St. Germain. The variety appears in Magazine of Horticulture 19:65 (1853) and in Downing's Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1869, p. 717).
Tree
Healthy, with an abundant bearing habit. Young wood slender, yellowish brown (Elliott).
Fruit
Size: Rather large (Hedrick); large (Elliott, Thomas).
Form: Hedrick describes the form as obovate-obtuse-pyriform. Elliott gives oblong obovate pyriform. Thomas characterizes it as obtuse pyriform overall, with large specimens approaching the shape of an early Bartlett and small ones more distinctly obovate.
Stem: About one inch long, rather thick (Elliott, Thomas).
Cavity: Small and irregular (Elliott, Thomas).
Calyx: Small (Elliott, Thomas).
Basin: Contracted (Elliott, Thomas).
Skin: Hedrick describes the ground color as greenish-yellow, sometimes blushed on the exposed side, and dotted. Elliott describes it as green, marked with minute brown specks and some russet blotches, rarely showing a faint brown cheek. Thomas records simply green.
Flesh/Flavor: Flesh white, juicy, buttery, melting, sugary, and perfumed; quality rated good (Hedrick). Elliott describes the flesh as melting and rates it "very good." Thomas describes it as melting, rich, and agreeable.
Core/Seeds: Core medium. Seeds long, yellowish brown (Elliott).
Season
There is a notable discrepancy among sources. Elliott places ripening in late September. Thomas gives mid-autumn. Hedrick records October and November.
Uses
Not described in source.
Subtypes/Variants
Not described in source.
Other
Not described in source.
Book Sources
Described in 3 period pomological works
View original book sources (3)
— U.P. Hedrick, The Pears of New York (1921)Chancellor.
- Mag. Hort. 19:65. 1853. 2. Downing Fr. Trees Am. 717. 1869.
Said to have originated in Germantown, Pa., on the grounds of a Mr. Chancellor. At the Second Session of the American Pomological Congress in 1853 it was placed on the list of pears that promised well. Fruit rather large, obovate-obtuse-pyriform, greenish-yellow, sometimes blushed on the exposed side, dotted; flesh white, juicy, buttery, melting, sugary, perfumed; good; Oct. and Nov.
— F.R. Elliott, The Western Fruit Book (1865)Chancellor.
Green's Germantown, | Early St. Germain.
Probably a native of Pennsylvania. Tree, healthy, abundant bearer; young wood, slender, yellowish brown. Fruit, large, oblong obovate pyriform, green, with minute brown specks and some russet blotches, rarely a faint brown cheek; stem, one inch long, rather thick; cavity small, irregular; calyx, small; basin, contracted; core, medium; seeds, long, yellowish brown; flesh, melting; "very good." Last September.
— John J. Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)Chancellor. Large, obtuse pyriform, large specimens early Bartlett-shaped, small ones obovate; green; stalk an inch long, rather thick; cavity small, irregular; calyx small, basin contracted; flesh melting, rich, agreeable. Mid-autumn. Germantown, Pa.