Clinton
PearClinton
Origin / History
Clinton is a pear of foreign origin, Belgian according to Thomas. It is a seedling of Van Mons and is recorded as Van Mons No. 1238. It was noticed in the Magazine of Horticulture in 1842 (vol. 8, p. 601) and again in 1851 (vol. 17, p. 263), the references Hedrick cites in The Pears of New York.
Tree
Not described in source.
Fruit
Size: Large, though Downing alone calls it of medium size.
Form: Obovate (Elliott).
Stem: Not described in source.
Cavity: Not described in source.
Calyx: Not described in source.
Basin: Not described in source.
Skin: Light yellow.
Dots: Not described in source.
Flesh and flavor: Flesh soft, buttery, "good, but not high-flavored" (Downing); Thomas calls it "buttery, not rich." Downing nonetheless judges it "a poor fruit."
Core and seeds: Not described in source.
Season
November. Downing places it in the middle of November.
Uses
Not described in source.
Subtypes / Variants
Not described in source.
Other
Not described in source.
Book Sources
Described in 4 period pomological works
Nursery Catalog Sources
Found in 1 catalog (1911) from England
- James Veitch & Sons , Ltd., Royal Exotic Nursery, Chelsea, London (also Coombe Wood, Langley, and Feltham) , England — 1911 — listed as Van Mons
View original book sources (4)
— F.R. Elliott, The Western Fruit Book (1865)Clinton. No. 1238, Van Mons. Foreign. Large, obovate, light yellow. November.
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Clinton.
Van Mons, No. 1238.
A poor fruit, of medium size, light yellow skin. Flesh soft, buttery, and good, but not high-flavored. Middle of November.
— John J. Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)Clinton. Large, yellow; buttery, not rich. November. Belgian.
— U.P. Hedrick, The Pears of New York (1921)Clinton.
- Mag. Hort. 8:601. 1842. 2. Ibid. 17:263. 1851.
Seedling of Van Mons. Fruit large, light yellow; flesh soft, buttery and good but not high flavored; Nov.