Directeur Hardy
PearDirecteur Hardy (Pear)
Origin and History
Directeur Hardy originated from the seed beds of M. Tourasse and was promoted by M. Baltet of Troyes, France. The variety was submitted to the Tasting Committee of the Pomological Society of France in 1894, where it was formally declared to be very good.
Fruit Characteristics
Form and Size Large to medium in size. The form is turbinate (pear-shaped), elongated, and obtuse (blunt at the apex). The fruit is slightly bent.
Color and Skin Golden-yellow in ground color, washed with red on the exposed side.
Flesh and Flavor The flesh is white, fine-textured, and melting. It is very juicy and presents flavors that are sugary, vinous (wine-like), and slightly perfumed.
Season
September.
Note on Sources: This description is drawn from U.P. Hedrick's The Pears of New York (1921), citing the Revue Horticole (1894), where Directeur Hardy was first documented. Tree characteristics, bearing habits, storage behavior, and commercial uses are not detailed in the available source material.
Book Sources
Described in 1 period pomological work
Nursery Catalog Sources
Found in 6 catalogs (1897–1917) from England
- Kelway & Son , Langport, Somerset , England — 1897
- George Bunyard & Co. , Royal Nurseries, Maidstone, Kent , England — 1900
- James Veitch & Sons , Ltd., Royal Exotic Nursery, Chelsea, London (also Coombe Wood, Langley, and Feltham) , England — 1911
- Thomas Rivers & Son , Sawbridgeworth, Hertfordshire , England — 1913
- George Bunyard & Co. , Royal Nurseries, Maidstone, Kent , England — 1914
- George Bunyard & Co. , Royal Nurseries, Maidstone, Kent , England — 1917
View original book sources (1)
— U.P. Hedrick, The Pears of New York (1921)Directeur Hardy.
- Rev. Hort. 542. 1894.
- Ibid. 500, fig. 153. 1894.
From the seed beds of M. Tourasse and promoted by M. Baltet of Troyes, Fr. It was submitted to the Tasting Committee of the Pomological Society of France in 1894 and declared to be very good.
Fruit large or medium, turbinate, elongated, obtuse, slightly bent, golden-yellow, washed with red on the exposed side; flesh white, fine, melting, very juicy, sugary, vinous, slightly perfumed; Sept.