Cushing
PearOrigin & History
The Cushing is a native American pear that originated on the grounds of Colonel Washington Cushing, of Hingham, Massachusetts. According to Downing (1900), the variety originated "about forty years ago" (relative to his writing). Hedrick (1921) adds that it was introduced to notice at the first annual show of the Massachusetts Horticultural Society in 1829. All four sources agree on the Hingham, Massachusetts origin and the Cushing family association.
Tree
Branches rather slender, diverging, olive yellow brown (Downing). Thomas describes shoots as spreading. Elliott describes the tree as hardy, of slender, diverging growth. The variety is very productive, producing most abundant crops (Downing, Thomas).
Fruit
Size: Medium (Downing, Hedrick, Elliott). Thomas describes it as medium or rather large.
Form: Obovate, tapering rather obliquely to the stem (Downing). Hedrick describes the form as obovate-obtuse, somewhat variable according to cultivation and soil. Elliott gives ovate obovate. Thomas describes it as obovate, or Doyenné form.
Stem: An inch long, planted in an abrupt cavity (Downing, Thomas, Elliott).
Cavity: Abrupt (Downing, Thomas).
Calyx: Rather small, set in a basin of moderate size (Downing). Elliott describes the calyx as small. Thomas describes the basin as rather shallow.
Skin: Smooth, light greenish yellow, sprinkled with small gray dots, and occasionally a dull red cheek (Downing). Hedrick describes the skin as light greenish-yellow, sometimes blushed with dull red on the sunny side and sprinkled all over with russety dots. Elliott gives light greenish yellow with small gray dots and a dull red cheek. Thomas describes the surface as light greenish-yellow, rarely a dull red cheek. Note the dot description varies: Downing and Elliott say "small gray dots," while Hedrick says "russety dots."
Flesh & Flavor: White, fine-grained, buttery, melting, sweet, sprightly, perfumed (Downing). Hedrick describes the flesh as fine, white, melting, juicy, agreeably sprightly, rich. Elliott gives white, fine-grained, melting, sweet. Thomas describes the flesh as fine-grained, buttery, melting, with a fine flavor.
Quality: Downing rates it "Good." Hedrick rates it "very good, among the best autumn pears." Elliott quotes "very good." Thomas says "nearly first-rate."
Core & Seeds: Not described in sources.
Season
Middle of September (Downing). September (Hedrick, Elliott). Thomas gives the early part of autumn.
Uses
Not described in sources.
Subtypes & Variants
Not described in sources.
Other
Thomas references an illustration, Fig. 670. Hedrick cites Prince's Pomological Manual (1:144, 1832) and Downing's Fruit Trees of America (730, 1869) as earlier references for this variety.
Book Sources
Described in 4 period pomological works
View original book sources (4)
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Cushing.
The Cushing is a native of Massachusetts, having originated on the grounds of Colonel Washington Cushing, of Hingham, about forty years ago. It is a very sprightly Pear, and, like many of our native varieties, it produces most abundant crops. Branches rather slender, diverging, olive yellow brown.
Fruit medium size, obovate, tapering rather obliquely to the stem. Skin smooth, light greenish yellow, sprinkled with small gray dots, and occasionally a dull red cheek. Stalk an inch long, planted in an abrupt cavity. Calyx rather small, set in a basin of moderate size. Flesh white, fine-grained, buttery, melting, sweet, sprightly, perfumed. Good. Middle of September.
— U.P. Hedrick, The Pears of New York (1921)Cushing.
- Prince Pom. Man. 1:144. 1832.
- Downing Fr. Trees Am. 730. 1869.
A native pear which originated on the farm of Col. Washington Cushing, Hingham, Mass. It was introduced to notice at the first annual show of the Massachusetts Horticultural Society in 1829. Fruit medium, somewhat variable according to cultivation and soil, obovate-obtuse, light greenish-yellow, sometimes blushed with dull red on the sunny side and sprinkled all over with russety dots; flesh fine, white, melting, juicy, agreeably sprightly, rich; very good, among the best autumn pears; Sept.
— F.R. Elliott, The Western Fruit Book (1865)Cushing.
American. Native of Hingham, Mass. Tree, hardy, of slender, diverging growth. Fruit, medium, ovate obovate, light greenish yellow, small gray dots, dull red cheek; calyx, small; stem, one inch long; flesh, white, fine-grained, melting, sweet; "very good." September.
— John J. Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)Cushing. Medium or rather large, obovate, or Doyenné form; surface light greenish-yellow, rarely a dull red cheek; stalk an inch long, cavity abrupt; basin rather shallow; flesh fine-grained, buttery, melting, with a fine flavor, nearly first-rate. Ripens in the early part of autumn. Shoots spreading. Very productive. Origin, Hingham, Mass. Fig. 670.