Colmar d'Été
PearColmar d'Été
Origin/History
A Belgian pear attributed to Van Mons, originated about 1825. Ranked highly among foreign (European) pomologists. References: Gardeners' Chronicle 875, 913 (1860); Leroy, Dictionnaire de Pomologie 1:583, fig. (1867). Downing notes that in American conditions it proves only good, or rather poor, and rots at the core.
Tree
Not described in source.
Fruit
Size: Downing describes the fruit as medium. Hedrick describes it as small.
Form: Downing: roundish obtuse pyriform. Hedrick: obovate or globular-obovate, smooth and shining. Thomas: conic.
Stem: Long, a little inclined (Downing).
Cavity: Small (Downing).
Calyx: Not described in source.
Basin: Not described in source.
Skin: Greenish-yellow. Hedrick notes the skin becomes quite yellow when ripe. Downing adds that it sometimes shows a slight blush in the sun, with patches of russet and brown dots. Hedrick likewise notes sprinkling of brown dots, and adds that in some seasons and places a cheek turns red and almost transparent.
Flesh/Flavor: Sources conflict significantly. Downing and Thomas both describe the flesh as coarse and astringent. Downing gives the color as white. Hedrick, by contrast, describes the flesh as yellowish, very melting, with juice excessively abundant, of honey sweetness, rich flavor, acidulous, and pleasantly aromatic — rating it first quality. Thomas adds that it is juicy.
Core/Seeds: Prone to rotting at the core (Downing, Thomas).
Season
Hedrick: August and September. Downing: early September. Thomas: September.
Uses
Not described in source.
Subtypes/Variants
Not described in source.
Other
Known in some references as Colmar Précoce and Autumn Colmar.
Book Sources
Described in 3 period pomological works
Nursery Catalog Sources
Found in 1 catalog (1900) from England
- George Bunyard & Co. , Royal Nurseries, Maidstone, Kent , England — 1900
View original book sources (3)
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Colmar d'Ete.
Colmar Precoce. Autumn Colmar.
A Belgian Pear, originated in 1825, and ranked high among foreign pomologists; here it proves only good, or rather poor, and rots at the core.
Fruit medium, roundish obtuse pyriform. Skin greenish yellow, sometimes a slight blush in sun, patches of russet, and brown dots. Stalk long, a little inclined, set in a small cavity. Flesh white, coarse, astringent. Early in September.
— U.P. Hedrick, The Pears of New York (1921)Colmar d'Été.
- Gard. Chron. 875, 913. 1860. 2. Leroy Dict. Pom. 1:583, fig. 1867.
Attributed to Van Mons about 1825. Fruit small, obovate or globular-obovate, smooth, shining, greenish-yellow becoming quite yellow when ripe, sprinkled with brown dots, having in some seasons and places a cheek red and almost transparent; flesh yellowish, very melting; juice excessively abundant, of honey sweetness, rich flavor, acidulous, pleasantly aromatic; first; Aug. and Sept.
— John J. Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)Colmar d'Été. Conic, greenish-yellow; coarse; juicy, astringent; rots at core. September.