Crawford

Pear

Crawford

Origin/History

Probably of Scotch origin (Downing, Thomas, Bunyard, Hedrick). Elliott simply notes it as "Foreign." First referenced in Downing's Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1845, and again in the 1869 edition), then in Bunyard's Thomas' Fruit Garden (1908) and Handbook of Hardy Fruits (1920), per Hedrick's citations. The chief historical merit attributed to the variety is its hardiness in a cold climate (Downing). It is much grown in the orchards of Kent, England, for London markets, and is greatly appreciated at Hampstead Heath on August Bank Holiday (Bunyard). Bunyard notes it is similar to Citron des Carmes but not identical.

Tree

Grows to a large size in the orchards of Kent, England, and is often planted on the windy sides of plantations as a protection to other trees (Hedrick). Tree stout (Hedrick, Bunyard), with a weeping growth habit (Bunyard). Remarkably productive (Hedrick); fertility remarkable (Bunyard). Leaf broad, dark green, very downy below (Bunyard).

Fruit

Size

Medium (Elliott, Thomas); middle-sized (Downing); small, 2 by 1⅞ inches (Bunyard); below medium (Hedrick).

Form

Obovate (Elliott, Downing, Thomas, Hedrick); round conical, even (Bunyard).

Stem

Stout, medium short, fleshy (Hedrick); ¾ inch, stout, fleshy (Bunyard).

Cavity

Not described in source.

Calyx

Open (Hedrick); eye open (Bunyard).

Basin

Shallow (Bunyard, Hedrick).

Skin

Yellow, tinged with brown (Elliott); light yellow, tinged with brown in the sun (Downing); light yellow (Thomas); nearly smooth, with a little fine russet, very pale green with the faintest red flush (Bunyard); pale green, with faintest red blush (Hedrick).

Flesh/Flavor

White, buttery, sweet, and of a tolerably pleasant flavor (Downing); buttery, sweet, moderately pleasant (Thomas); nearly white, mealy, sweet and juicy, flavour nil (Bunyard); nearly white, mealy, sweet, juicy, flavor nil (Hedrick). Sources thus disagree on texture and flavor quality: Downing and Thomas describe the flesh as buttery and tolerably/moderately pleasant, while Bunyard and Hedrick describe it as mealy with no flavor. Downing rates the variety as of second quality.

Core/Seeds

Not described in source.

Season

August (Elliott, Downing, Thomas, Hedrick); dessert, early August (Bunyard).

Uses

Dessert (Bunyard). Grown commercially in Kent for London markets (Bunyard).

Subtypes/Variants

Not described in source.

Other

Bunyard notes that the trees are greatly appreciated at Hampstead Heath on August Bank Holiday. Hedrick records that the tree's stout, productive habit makes it useful as a windbreak planted on the windy sides of orchard plantations in Kent.

Book Sources

Described in 5 period pomological works

View original book sources (5)

Crawford. Foreign. Medium, obovate, yellow, tinged with brown. August.

— F.R. Elliott, The Western Fruit Book (1865)

Crawford.

Bancrief. Lammas of the Scotch.

A Scotch fruit, of second quality ; the chief merit of which is its hardiness in a cold climate.

Fruit middle-sized, obovate. Skin light yellow, tinged with brown in the sun. Flesh white, buttery, sweet, and of a tolerably pleasant flavor. August.

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

Crawford. Medium, obovate, light yellow; flesh buttery, sweet, moderately pleasant. August. Scotch.

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

CHALK. (Crawford, Bancrief.) Dessert, early August, small, 2 by 1⅞, round conical, even. Skin, nearly smooth, a little fine russet. Colour, very pale green with the faintest red flush. Flesh, nearly white, mealy, sweet and juicy, flavour nil. Eye open in a shallow basin. Stem, ¾ inch, stout, fleshy. Growth, stout, weeping; fertility remarkable. Leaf, broad, dark green, very downy below. Origin, probably Scotch. It is similar to Citron des Carmes but not identical. A fruit much grown in Kent for London markets, and greatly appreciated at Hampstead Heath on August Bank Holiday.

— E.A. Bunyard, A Handbook of Hardy Fruits (1920)

Crawford.

Downing Fr. Trees Am. 335. 1845.

Ibid. 729. 1869.

Bunyard Thomas Fr. Card. 139. 1908. Chalk.

Bunyard Handb. Hardy Fr. 163. 1920.

This tree, probably of Scotch origin, grows to a large size in the orchards of Kent, Eng., and is often planted on the windy sides of plantations as a protection to other trees. Tree stout, remarkably productive. Fruit below medium, obovate, pale green, with faintest red blush; stem stout, medium short, fleshy; calyx open, in a shallow basin; flesh nearly white, mealy, sweet, juicy; flavor nil; Aug.

— U.P. Hedrick, The Pears of New York (1921)

Bancrief CHALK Chalk Lammas of the Scotch Lammas Seckel