Chelmsford
PearOrigin/History
Originated on the farm of Zaccheus Wright, Chelmsford, Massachusetts, early in the nineteenth century (Hedrick). It has been known also under the names Tyngsboro and Mogul Summer (Downing, Hedrick).
Hedrick cites references in the Magazine of Horticulture from 1840 and 1841, and Downing's Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1869).
Elliott identifies it simply as American in origin.
Tree
Vigorous, productive (Downing).
Fruit
Size: Large (Downing, Elliott, Thomas). Hedrick describes it as "of the largest size."
Form: Sources vary slightly in their description. Downing describes it as roundish obtuse pyriform. Hedrick gives globular-obtuse-pyriform. Elliott describes it as pyriform. Thomas calls it pyramidal.
Skin: Yellow with a red cheek (all four sources agree).
Stem: Not described in source.
Cavity: Not described in source.
Calyx: Not described in source.
Basin: Not described in source.
Flesh/Flavor: Coarse, sweet (Downing, Hedrick, Thomas). Thomas rates it "good for cooking." Elliott does not describe the flesh texture but notes the synonym "Stone," which may refer to the coarse, hard character of the flesh.
Core/Seeds: Not described in source.
Season
Last of September (Downing). Other sources simply give September.
Uses
Good for cooking (Downing, Hedrick, Thomas).
Other
Elliott lists the synonym "Stone" — a name not mentioned by the other sources.
Book Sources
Described in 4 period pomological works
View original book sources (4)
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Chelmsford.
Tynsboro'. Mogul Summer.
Origin, Chelmsford, Mass. Tree vigorous, productive.
Fruit large, roundish obtuse pyriform, yellow, red cheek. Flesh coarse, sweet, good for cooking. Last of September.
— U.P. Hedrick, The Pears of New York (1921)Chelmsford.
- Mag. Hort. 6:18. 1840. 2. Ibid. 7:169. 1841. 3. Downing Fr. Trees Am. 719. 1869.
Originated on the farm of Zaccheus Wright, Chelmsford, Mass., early in the nineteenth century. It has been known also under the names Tyngsboro and Mogul Summer.
Fruit of the largest size, globular-obtuse-pyriform, yellow, red cheek; flesh coarse, sweet; good for cooking; Sept.
— F.R. Elliott, The Western Fruit Book (1865)CHELMSFORD.
Stone.
American. Large, pyriform, yellow, red cheek. September.
— John J. Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)Chelmsford. Large, pyramidal, yellow with a red cheek; flesh coarse; sweet—good for cooking. September.