Cumberland
PearCumberland
Origin/History
A native American pear, originating in Cumberland, Rhode Island, according to Downing, Kenrick, and Manning. However, Alexandre Bivort and M. de Jonghe declared this variety to be one of Van Mons' seedlings; per Hedrick, the conflicting opinion is explained by the fact that the Cumberland of Bivort and de Jonghe is really the variety Henkel. Early references include Kenrick's American Orchardist (1832, p. 168), Magazine of Horticulture (1860, 26:508), Leroy's Dictionnaire de Pomologie (1867, 1:608, with figures), and Downing's Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1869, p. 730).
Tree
Not described in source.
Fruit
Size and Form
Rather large to large, obovate, with Downing and Hedrick further specifying obovate-pyriform.
Stem
Not described in source.
Cavity
Not described in source.
Calyx
Not described in source.
Basin
Not described in source.
Skin
Orange yellow with a (pale) red cheek per Elliott, Downing, and Thomas. Hedrick describes the skin as pale yellow on the shaded side and greenish-yellow on the side of the sun, dotted with gray-russet and having some russet patches.
Flesh and Flavor
White, buttery, and tolerably/moderately juicy (Downing, Thomas). Downing rates the quality as "Good." Hedrick describes the flesh as white, semi-fine, dense, melting, very juicy, sugary, acidulous, rather pleasantly flavored, and slightly perfumed; he rates the variety as "second."
Core and Seeds
Not described in source.
Season
September and October (Elliott, Downing); October (Thomas); September (Hedrick).
Uses
Not described in source.
Subtypes/Variants
Not described in source. (Hedrick notes that the variety known as Cumberland by Bivort and de Jonghe is actually a different variety, Henkel — this is a case of name confusion rather than a true variant of Cumberland.)
Other
Not described in source.
Book Sources
Described in 4 period pomological works
View original book sources (4)
— F.R. Elliott, The Western Fruit Book (1865)Cumberland. American. Large, obovate, orange yellow, red cheek. September, October.
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Cumberland.
A native fruit, in Cumberland, Rhode Island.
Fruit rather large, obovate pyriform. Skin orange yellow, pale red cheek. Flesh white, buttery, and tolerably juicy. Good. September and October.
— John J. Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)Cumberland. Rather large, obovate, orange yellow; buttery, moderately juicy. October. R. I.
— U.P. Hedrick, The Pears of New York (1921)Cumberland
- Kenrick Am. Orch. 168. 1832. 2. Mag. Hort. 26:508. 1860. 3. Leroy Diet. Pom. 1:608, figs. 1867. 4. Downing Fr. Trees Am. 730. 1869.
Alexandre Bivort and M. de Jonghe declared that this variety was one of Van Mons' seedlings while Downing, Kenrick and Manning affirmed it to be a native of Cumberland, R. I. The conflicting opinion is explained by the fact that the Cumberland of the first parties is really Henkel. Fruit large, obovate-pyriform, pale yellow on the shaded side and greenish-yellow on the side of the sun, dotted with gray-russet and having some russet patches; flesh white, semi-fine, dense, melting, very juicy, sugary, acidulous, rather pleasantly flavored, slightly perfumed; second; Sept.