COMTE DE LAMY

Pear

Comte de Lamy

Origin/History

Originated in Belgium in 1828.

Tree

Tree vigorous, spreading. Shoots reddish, erect.

Fruit

Size and Form: Sources differ slightly: Downing describes the fruit as medium size and oblate pyriform; Thomas describes it as rather small and roundish-obovate, comparing the shape to the Bloodgood pear.

Stem: About an inch long, straight, obliquely inserted under a fleshy lip, or planted in a slight cavity (Downing); Thomas describes the stalk as set under a lip, scarcely sunk.

Cavity: Slight (Downing); scarcely sunk (Thomas).

Calyx: Open.

Basin: Shallow.

Skin: Yellow, with a brownish red cheek, and sprinkled with patches and small russety dots (Downing); yellow, with dots and thin russet (Thomas).

Flesh and Flavor: White, fine-grained, buttery, melting, and sweet (Downing); juicy, melting, refreshing, and agreeable (Thomas).

Core/Seeds: Not described in source.

Season

Last of September to middle of October (Downing); October (Thomas).

Uses

Not described in source.

Subtypes/Variants

Not described in source.

Other

Rated Good (Downing).

Book Sources

Described in 2 period pomological works

Nursery Catalog Sources

Found in 3 catalogs (1894–1911) from California, England

Felix Gillet , Barren Hill Nursery, Nevada City , California — 1894
Felix Gillet , Barren Hill Nursery, Nevada City , California — 1895
James Veitch & Sons , Ltd., Royal Exotic Nursery, Chelsea, London (also Coombe Wood, Langley, and Feltham) , England — 1911

View original book sources (2)

COMTE DE LAMY.

Beurre Curtet. Beurre Quitelet. Comte Lamay. Dingler. Bis Curtet. Beurre Cutter. Henri Van Mons, erroneously.

Originated in Belgium in 1828. Tree vigorous, spreading.

Fruit of medium size, oblate pyriform. Skin yellow, with a brownish red cheek, and sprinkled with patches and small russety dots. Stalk an inch long, straight, obliquely inserted under a lip, or planted in a slight cavity. Calyx open, set in a shallow basin. Flesh white, fine-grained, buttery, melting, sweet. Good. Last of September to middle of October.

— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)

Comte de Lamy. Rather small, roundish-obovate (Bloodgood-shaped); yellow, with dots and thin russet; stalk an inch long, set under a lip, scarcely sunk; basin shallow; juicy, melting, refreshing, agreeable. October. Shoots reddish, erect.

— John J. Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)

Beurre Curtel Beurre Curtet Beurre Cutter Beurre Quetelet Beurre Quitelet Bis Curtet Comte Lamay Comte Lamy Curtet's Butterbirne Curtet’s Butterbirne Dingler Graf Lamy Henri Van Mons Henry Van Mons Marie-Louise II Marie-Louise the Second Quetelet Lamy Colmar Neill Notaire Minot Henri Van Mons' Fleur de Neige Delices d'Hardenpont du Nord and Belgium Compte de Lamy