Countess of Lunay
Pear
Countess of Lunay
Origin/History
A foreign variety. Has been much disseminated under the name "Doyenné d'Eté." (Elliott)
Tree
Vigorous. Very productive when worked on Quince stock. (Elliott) Tree characteristics otherwise not described in source.
Fruit
Size: Medium.
Form: Elliott describes the fruit as roundish obovate; Thomas describes it as obovate-pyriform, somewhat conic.
Stem: Long (Thomas gives approximately an inch and a half), largest where it joins the tree (Elliott). Set without depression on the rounded point of the neck, which is slightly russeted (Thomas). Elliott notes a slight cavity, often with a small lip on one side of the stem.
Cavity: Slight, often a little lipped on one side of the stem (Elliott). Thomas describes the stem as set without depression on the neck, indicating little or no true cavity.
Calyx: Large, open, with long reflexed segments. (Elliott)
Basin: Very small, even. (Thomas)
Skin: Smooth. Pale yellow — Thomas specifies a pale waxen yellow. Often thinly sprinkled with red on the sun-exposed side, with a thin red cheek. Some russet specks present, with russet at the base of the stem (Elliott); the neck is slightly russeted (Thomas).
Flesh and Flavor: White, melting, very juicy, and rated "very good" by both sources. The two sources conflict on texture: Elliott describes the flesh as rather coarse; Thomas describes it as fine.
Core and Seeds: Core medium; seeds brown. (Elliott)
Season
October (Elliott); mid-autumn (Thomas).
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)
— F.R. Elliott, The Western Fruit Book (1865)COUNTESS OF LUNAY. Comtesse de Lunay.
Foreign. Tree, vigorous; very productive on Quince; has been much disseminated as "Doyenné d'Eté." Fruit, medium, roundish obovate; skin, smooth, pale yellow, often thinly sprinkled with red in sun, some russet specks, and russet at base of stem; stem, long, largest where it joins the tree; cavity, slight, often a little lip one side of stem; calyx, large, open, with long reflexed segments; core, medium; seeds, brown; flesh, white, rather coarse, melting, juicy; "very good." October.
— John J. Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)Countess of Lunay. Size medium, obovate-pyriform, somewhat conic; skin smooth, pale waxen yellow, with a thin red cheek; stalk about an inch and a half long, set without depression on the rounded point of the neck, which is slightly russeted; basin very small, even; flesh white, very juicy, melting, fine, very good. Mid-autumn.