Colmar Van Mons
PearColmar Van Mons
Origin/History
Colmar Van Mons is a Belgian pear raised at Enghien in 1808. According to Hedrick (1921), it was raised by M. Duquesne, a friend of Van Mons. Downing (1900) lists it among his entry under the head name Colmar des Invalides. Kenrick noted it as early as 1832.
Tree
Young wood: Reddish olive yellow brown (Downing).
Not otherwise described in source.
Fruit
Size: The sources disagree: Downing (1900) describes the fruit as large; Hedrick (1921) describes it as medium.
Form: The sources disagree: Downing (1900) describes the form as obtuse pyriform; Hedrick (1921) describes it as globular-turbinate and irregular.
Stem: Rather short (Downing).
Cavity: Small (Downing).
Calyx: Large and open; segments long, recurved (Downing).
Basin: Not described in source.
Skin: The sources disagree in detail. Downing (1900) describes the skin as yellow, slightly marbled with crimson in the sun, and sprinkled with russet and brown dots and traces. Hedrick (1921) describes the skin as thick, dark green changing to yellow-green, and washed with red on the side exposed to the sun.
Flesh/Flavor: The sources disagree substantially. Downing (1900) describes the flesh as whitish, coarse, juicy, breaking, and sweet. Hedrick (1921) describes it as yellowish, buttery and melting, but gritty about the core, with watery juice.
Core/Seeds: Not described in source.
Season
The sources disagree slightly on season length: Downing (1900) gives November to February; Hedrick (1921) gives November to January.
Uses
Both sources agree the variety is a cooking pear. Downing notes it is "large and showy, but only valuable for cooking."
Subtypes/Variants
Not described in source.
Other
Not described in source.
Book Sources
Described in 2 period pomological works
- Hedrick, The Pears of New York (1921)
- Downing, Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900) — listed as Colmar des Invalides
View original book sources (2)
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)COLMAR DES INVALIDES.
Poire des Invalides. Va Deux Ans. Beurre de Printemps. Colmar Van Mons. Gros Colmar Van Mons.
This Belgian Pear is said to have been raised at Enghien in 1808. It is large and showy, but only valuable for cooking. Young wood reddish olive yellow brown.
Fruit large, obtuse pyriform. Skin yellow, slightly marbled with crimson in the sun, and sprinkled with russet and brown dots and traces. Stalk rather short, set in a small cavity. Calyx large and open. Segments long, recurved. Flesh whitish, coarse, juicy, breaking, sweet. November to February.
— U.P. Hedrick, The Pears of New York (1921)Colmar Van Mons.
- Kenrick Am. Orch. 192. 1832.
- Hogg Fruit Man. 551. 1884. Colmar des Invalides.
- Leroy Diet. Pom. 1:584, fig. 1867.
- Downing Fr. Trees Am. 725. 1890. Raised at Enghien, Bel., in 1808 by M. Duquesne, a friend of Van Mons. Fruit medium, globular-turbinate, irregular; skin thick, dark green changing to yellow-green and washed with red on the side of the sun; flesh yellowish, buttery and melting, gritty about the core; juice watery; a cooking pear; Nov. to Jan.