Davis
PearDavis
Origin/History
Davis is a seedless native pear found about 1837 by a Mr. Davis on the Westchester Road, six miles from Philadelphia (Hedrick). Downing places its introduction from Delaware Co., Pa. It was first noted in the Magazine of Horticulture 23:107 in 1857. Downing regarded its near-complete seedlessness as its primary distinguishing claim, writing that "the only claim this Pear has is that some specimens are almost, or entirely, seedless." Downing also remarked that Davis is similar to, and may be identical with, the Elton variety.
Tree
Not described in source.
Fruit
Size: Small (all sources agree).
Form: Variable. Downing describes the form as obovate obtuse; Thomas as roundish and variable; Hedrick as "variable in form, sometimes globular, usually obtuse-pyriform."
Stem: Short, set in a small cavity (Downing).
Cavity: Small (Downing).
Calyx: Partially open (Downing).
Basin: Not described in source.
Skin: Yellowish, netted and patched with russet dots (Downing); russeted (Thomas); much russeted, yellowish (Hedrick).
Flesh/Flavor: Flesh yellowish (Downing). Buttery (Thomas, Hedrick), melting (Downing, Hedrick), rather coarse (Downing, Hedrick), gritty at the core (Thomas), aromatic (Hedrick). Downing describes it as "not juicy." Sweet (Downing, Hedrick), vinous (Thomas, Hedrick).
Core/Seeds: Notably near-seedless to entirely seedless (Downing, Hedrick).
Season
Downing gives September; Thomas and Hedrick give October.
Uses
Not described in source.
Quality
Good (all sources).
Book Sources
Described in 3 period pomological works
View original book sources (3)
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Davis.
Introduced from Delaware Co., Pa. The only claim this Pear has is that some specimens are almost, or entirely, seedless.
Fruit small, obovate obtuse, yellowish, netted and patched with russet dots. Stalk short, in a small cavity. Calyx partially open. Flesh yellowish, rather coarse, not juicy, melting, sweet. Good. September. This is similar to and may be identical with Elton.
— John J. Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)Davis. Small, roundish, variable, russeted; buttery, gritty at core; vinous; good. October. Pa.
— U.P. Hedrick, The Pears of New York (1921)Davis.
- Mag. Hort. 23:107. 1857.
- Downing Fr. Trees Am. 731. 1869.
A seedless native pear found about 1837 by a Mr. Davis, six miles from Philadelphia, on the Westchester Road. Fruit small; variable in form, sometimes globular, usually obtuse-pyriform, yellowish, much russeted; flesh buttery, aromatic, melting, sweet, rather coarse, somewhat vinous; good; Oct.