Doctor Turner
PearDoctor Turner
Origin/History
A pear of Connecticut origin. Downing gives the origin as unknown beyond its Connecticut provenance; the variety appears in the American Pomological Society Report of 1862 and in Downing's Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1869).
Tree
Of good growth (Hedrick), a moderate spreading grower. Rather an early and regular, although not an over-abundant bearer (Hedrick). Young wood a dark olive-brown.
Fruit
Size and Form: Large. The two sources differ slightly in their characterization of shape: Downing describes it as "acute obtuse pyriform," while Hedrick describes it as "oblong-pyriform, with blunt neck."
Stem: Long, curved, set in a slight depression by a ring or lip.
Cavity: Slight depression at the stem end (indicated by the stem description).
Calyx: Closed.
Basin: Rather small.
Skin: Pale yellow, sometimes with a slight blush, and thickly sprinkled with green and brown dots, with a few traces of russet.
Flesh and Flavor: White, juicy, half melting, slightly vinous, somewhat astringent. Quality rated Good.
Season
August.
Uses
Not described in source.
Subtypes/Variants
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)Doctor Turner.
A Connecticut Pear, origin unknown. Tree a moderate spreading grower. Young wood a dark olive brown.
Fruit large, acute obtuse pyriform. Skin pale yellow, sometimes with a slight blush, and thickly sprinkled with green and brown dots, a few traces of russet. Stalk long, curved, set in a slight depression by a ring or lip. Calyx closed. Basin rather small. Flesh white, juicy, half melting, slightly vinous, somewhat astringent. Good. August.
— U.P. Hedrick, The Pears of New York (1921)Doctor Turner, i. Am. Pom. Soc. Rpt. 210. 1862. 2. Downing Fr. Trees Am. 740. 1869.
A pear of Connecticut origin. Tree of good growth, moderately spreading, rather an early and regular although not an over-abundant bearer; young wood a dark olive-brown. Fruit large, oblong-pyriform, with blunt neck; skin pale yellow, sometimes with a slight blush and thickly sprinkled with green and brown dots, a few traces of russet; stalk long, curved, set in a slight depression by a ring or lip; calyx closed; basin rather small; flesh white, juicy, half melting, slightly vinous, somewhat astringent; good; Aug.