Délices Van Mons
PearDélices Van Mons
Origin/History
The date of origin of Délices Van Mons is unknown. So far as can be learned, it was first described simply as "Délices." Elliott classifies it as a foreign variety.
Tree
A healthy, free grower. Young wood dull grayish yellow brown.
Fruit
Size and Form: Medium. Ovate obovate pyriform (Downing); Elliott describes the form simply as pyriform. Surface somewhat uneven.
Stem: Elliott gives the stem as half an inch long. Downing describes the stalk as rather long. These accounts conflict; both are recorded.
Cavity: Small, russeted.
Calyx: Small, closed. Segments short.
Basin: Small, slightly russeted.
Skin: The two sources differ on coloration. Elliott describes the skin as yellowish green in the shade and russet in the sun, dotted and spotted with gray. Downing describes it as pale yellow with a shade of crimson in the sun, nettings of russet, and numerous brown dots.
Flesh: Elliott describes the flesh as yellowish, melting, juicy, and perfumed. Downing describes it as white, coarse at the core, juicy, melting, sweet, pleasant, and slightly vinous. The two sources conflict on flesh color — yellowish (Elliott) versus white (Downing); both are recorded.
Quality: Very good (Elliott); good or very good (Downing).
Season
Elliott gives September–October; Downing gives October.
Uses
Not described in source.
Subtypes/Variants
Not described in source.
Other
Not described in source.
Book Sources
Described in 2 period pomological works
- Downing, Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)
- Elliott, The Western Fruit Book (1865) — listed as Delices de Mons
View original book sources (2)
— F.R. Elliott, The Western Fruit Book (1865)Delices de Mons. Foreign. Fruit, medium, pyriform, uneven surface ; stem, half-inch long ; calyx, small ; skin, yellowish green in shade, russet in sun, dotted and spotted with gray : flesh, yellowish, melting, juicy, perfumed ; "very good." September, October.
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Délices Van Mons.
Délices de Mons. Délices de la Meuse.
The date of origin of this Pear is unknown. So far as we can learn, it was first described simply as Délices. The tree is a healthy free grower, with young wood of a dull grayish yellow brown.
Fruit medium, ovate obovate pyriform. Surface somewhat uneven. Skin pale yellow, with a shade of crimson in the sun, nettings of russet, and numerous brown dots. Stalk rather long. Cavity small, russeted. Calyx small, closed. Segments short. Basin small, slightly russeted. Flesh white, coarse at the core, juicy, melting, sweet, pleasant, slightly vinous. Good or very good. October.