Comtesse de Chambord
PearOrigin/History
Originated at Poitiers, Département Vienne, France, from seeds of Winter Nelis sown in 1847 by President Parigot, and fruited for the first time in 1855. First described in Annales de Pomologie Belge 7:13, fig. (1857) and in Leroy, Dictionnaire de Pomologie 1:596, fig. (1867).
Tree
Moderately vigorous. Young wood olive yellow brown. (Hedrick.)
Fruit
Size: Downing describes the fruit as small to medium; Hedrick gives medium and above.
Form: Obtuse pyriform (Downing); obovate-obtuse-pyriform (Hedrick).
Stem: Short (Downing).
Cavity: Not described in source.
Calyx: Large, half closed (Downing).
Basin: Not described in source.
Skin: Rough and wrinkled (Hedrick); yellowish green in the shade (Downing) — very bright green (Hedrick) — brilliant yellow on the side touched by the sun (Hedrick), described by Downing as bright golden in the sun; veined, dotted, and marbled with yellowish gray (Downing); sprinkled with dots of greenish-gray (Hedrick); sometimes washed with bright red on the sun side (Hedrick).
Flesh/Flavor: Yellowish white, melting (Downing); semi-fine, very melting, buttery (Hedrick). Rough at the centre (Downing); gritty at core (Hedrick). Juice most abundant, sugary, refreshing, vinous, and delicately aromatic (Hedrick). Sweet, vinous, delicate aroma (Downing). Quality rated first (Hedrick).
Core/Seeds: Not described in source.
Season
November and December.
Uses
Not described in source.
Subtypes/Variants
Not described in source.
Other
Not described in source.
Book Sources
Described in 2 period pomological works
View original book sources (2)
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)COMTESSE DE CHAMBORD.
Originated at Poictiers, France. Tree moderately vigorous. Young wood olive yellow brown. Leroy describes the fruit as follows:—
"Fruit small to medium, obtuse pyriform. Skin yellowish green in the shade, bright golden in the sun, veined, dotted, and marbled with yellowish gray. Stalk short. Calyx large, half closed. Flesh yellowish white, melting, rough at centre, sweet, vinous, delicate aroma." November, December.
— U.P. Hedrick, The Pears of New York (1921)Comtesse de Chambord.
- Ann. Pom. Belge 7:13, fig. 1857. 2. Leroy Dict. Pom. 1:596, fig. 1867.
From seeds of Winter Nelis sown in 1847 by President Parigot, Poitiers, Depart. Vienne, Fr., and fruited for the first time in 1855. Fruit medium and above, obovate-obtuse-pyriform; skin rough, wrinkled, very bright green, sprinkled with dots of greenish-gray, brilliant yellow on the side touched by the sun, and sometimes washed with bright red; flesh yellowish-white, semi-fine, very melting, buttery, gritty at core; juice most abundant, sugary, refreshing, vinous and delicately aromatic; first; Nov. and Dec.