Deux Sceurs
PearDeux Sceurs
Origin/History
A chance seedling found near Marines, France, named by Major Esperen. Thomas (1903) lists the variety as Belgian, which may reflect Major Esperen's nationality or the variety's introduction through Belgian pomology rather than its French place of origin.
Tree
Vigorous, thorny, hardy, and productive.
Fruit
Size/Form: Downing describes the fruit as medium, oblong oval, and irregular in outline. Thomas describes it as large and long pyriform. The two sources conflict on size (medium vs. large) and differ somewhat on form, though "long pyriform" and "oblong oval" may reflect different emphases on the same shape.
Stem: Rather short, set in a slight depression or inserted by a lip.
Cavity: A slight depression at the stem end, or the stem set by a lip (no true cavity described).
Calyx: Open.
Basin: Not described in source.
Skin: Greenish yellow, sprinkled with brown dots (Downing). Thomas describes the color simply as green.
Flesh/Flavor: White, coarse. Downing describes it as moderately juicy and sweet, rated Good. Thomas describes it as juicy and coarse, with an almond flavor — the almond flavor is noted only by Thomas and is not mentioned by Downing.
Core/Seeds: Not described in source.
Season
October–November (Downing). November (Thomas).
Uses
Not described in source.
Subtypes/Variants
Not described in source.
Other
Not described in source.
Book Sources
Described in 2 period pomological works
View original book sources (2)
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Deux Sceurs.
Des Deux Soeurs. The Two Sisters.
A chance seedling found near Marines, France, and named by Major Esperen. Tree vigorous, thorny, hardy, productive.
Fruit medium, oblong oval, irregular. Skin greenish yellow, sprinkled with brown dots. Stalk rather short, set in a slight depression or by a lip. Calyx open. Flesh white, coarse, moderately juicy, sweet. Good. October, November.
— John J. Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)Deux Sceurs. Large, long pyriform, green; juicy, coarse, with an almond flavor. November. Belgian.