Charlotte de Brouwer
PearOrigin/History
One of Major Espéren's seedlings, raised at Mechlin, Belgium, and reported on in 1835 (Hedrick). Belgian origin noted by all sources.
Tree
Tree of moderate vigor and of great productiveness (Downing). Elliott also notes the tree is very productive.
Fruit
Size: Medium or above (Downing, Hedrick). Thomas describes it as rather large.
Form: Obovate roundish pyriform (Downing). Hedrick describes it as globular-ovate. Elliott gives roundish obovate. Thomas describes it as roundish-oval.
Stem: Stout and fleshy at its insertion (Downing). Short (Elliott).
Cavity: Not described in source.
Calyx: Open (Downing). Small, with long segments (Elliott).
Basin: Medium (Downing).
Skin: Yellow, slightly netted and patched with russet, and with many russet dots, and slightly shaded in the sun with crimson (Downing). Hedrick describes a yellow ground almost entirely covered with a coating of light brown russet except on the shaded side. Elliott describes the skin as greenish golden russet, with spots of yellow in sun. Thomas gives rich yellow.
Flesh and Flavor: Whitish, juicy, melting, vinous; good (Downing). Hedrick describes the flesh as yellowish-white, semifine, semi-melting; juice sufficient, sugary, vinous, acid and very astringent; quality rated second. Elliott describes the flesh as pinkish white, half melting, buttery, juicy, perfumed. Thomas describes it as juicy, rich, vinous, perfumed.
Core and Seeds: Core small (Elliott). Not otherwise described.
Season
October (Downing, Thomas). October and November (Hedrick). November (Elliott).
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)Charlotte de Brower.
One of Esperen's seedlings. Tree of moderate vigor, and of great productiveness.
Fruit medium or above, obovate roundish pyriform. Skin yellow, slightly netted and patched with russet, and with many russet dots, and slightly shaded in the sun with crimson. Stalk stout and fleshy at its insertion. Calyx open. Basin medium. Flesh whitish, juicy, melting, vinous. Good. October.
— U.P. Hedrick, The Pears of New York (1921)Charlotte de Brouwer. i. Ann. Pom. Beige 3:33. 1855. 2. Mas Le Verger 3:Pt. i, 107, fig. 52. 1866-73. One of Major Espéren's seedlings raised at Mechlin, Bel., and reported on in 1835. Fruit medium and above, globular-ovate, yellow ground of skin almost entirely covered with a coating of light brown-russet except on the shaded side; flesh yellowish-white, semifine, semi-melting; juice sufficient, sugary, vinous, acid and very astringent; second; Oct. and Nov.
— F.R. Elliott, The Western Fruit Book (1865)Charlotte de Brower.
Foreign. Very productive. Fruit, medium, roundish obovate, greenish golden russet, with spots of yellow in sun ; stem, short ; calyx, small ; long segments ; core, small ; flesh, pinkish white, half melting, buttery, juicy, perfumed. November. (Hov. Mag.)
— John J. Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)Charlotte de Brower. Rather large, roundish-oval, rich yellow; juicy, rich, vinous, perfumed. October. Belgian.