Dorset. — Large, obovate obtuse pyriform; color golden yellow with bright red cheek. Flesh juicy, melting, sweet, very good. Season, winter. A new variety giving much promise east of the lakes.

— J.L. Budd & N.E. Hansen, American Horticultural Manual, Part II: Systematic Pomology (1914)

DORSET

1. Ellwanger & Barry Cat. 6, fig. 1895. 2. Ibid. 17, fig. 1900. 3. W. N. Y. Hort. Soc. Rpt. 118. 1900. 4. Ill. Hort. Soc. Rpt. 220. 1902.

Dorset has been on probation in New York for twenty-five years, and its status is not yet decided. The fruits resemble those of Seckel in shape and color, but are larger and come in season later. These external resemblances to Seckel have given it the name "Late Seckel," which, however, is a misnomer, as a taste of the two fruits at once makes plain. Dorset is not nearly as richly flavored as Seckel. The tree-characters are all very good. Since there are few good late pears to follow Seckel, there may be a place for Dorset.

Dorset was raised from seed by Lemuel Clapp, Dorchester, Massachusetts, but the exact date of origin is unknown. The variety was introduced by Ellwanger and Barry, Rochester, New York, in 1895. During the next ten years it was placed on trial by several state experiment stations, and soon gained a reputation for the characters noted in the preceding paragraph.

Tree small, spreading, very productive, a regular bearer; trunk slender, shaggy; branches slender, smooth, reddish-brown mingled with dull ash-gray, marked with many large lenticels; branchlets slender, dark brown, smooth, glabrous, with large, raised, lenticels.

Leaf-buds medium to small, conical, pointed, free. Leaves 3 in. long, 1½ in. wide, oval, leathery; apex taper-pointed; margin crenate; petiole 1½ in. long, slender. Flower-buds large, long, conical, pointed, free; blossoms open very early; flowers often 1½ in. across, showy, in dense clusters, from 8 to 12 buds in a cluster; pedicels 1 in. or less in length, pubescent, greenish.

Fruit matures in December; medium in size, 2½ in. long, 2⅛ in. wide, uniform in size and shape, obovate-obtuse-pyriform, with unequal sides; stem ¾ in. long, curved, cavity almost lacking, obtuse, shallow, narrow, furrowed, compressed, often lipped; calyx open; lobes separated at the base, long, acute; basin narrow, obtuse or often quite abrupt, gently furrowed; skin thick, smooth; color dull greenish-yellow, marked with a dull bronze-red blush on the exposed cheek; dots many, small, grayish and russet, conspicuous; flesh yellowish-white, firm, granular at the center, tender, very juicy, very sweet and aromatic; quality good. Core closed, with clasping core-lines; calyx-tube short, wide, conical; seeds large, wide, long, plump, acute, broad at the base.

— U.P. Hedrick, The Pears of New York (1921)

DORSET. Late Seckel.

Dorset has been on probation for twenty-five years, but its status is not yet decided. The fruits resemble those of Seckel in shape and color, but are larger and come in season later. These external resemblances to Seckel have given it the name "Late Seckel," which, however, is a misnomer, as a taste of the two fruits at once makes plain. Dorset is not nearly as richly flavored as Seckel. The tree-characters are very good. Since there are few good late pears to follow Seckel, there may be a place for Dorset. The variety was raised from seed by Lemuel Clapp, Dorchester, Massachusetts, and was introduced in 1895.

Tree small, spreading, slow-growing, very productive, a regular bearer; trunk slender, shaggy; branches slender, smooth, reddish-brown, marked with many large lenticels. Leaves 3 inches long, 1¾ inches wide, oval, leathery; apex taper-pointed; margin crenate; petiole 1¼ inches long, slender. Blossoms open very early; flowers often 1¼ inches across, showy, in dense clusters, from 8 to 10 buds in a cluster. Fruit matures in December; below medium in size, 2⅝ inches long, 2⅝ inches wide, uniform in size and shape, obovate-obtuse-pyriform, with unequal sides; stem ⅝ inch long, curved; cavity almost lacking, obtuse, shallow, narrow, furrowed, compressed, often lipped; calyx open; lobes separated at the base, long, acute; basin narrow, obtuse, gently furrowed; skin thick, smooth, dull greenish-yellow, marked with a dull bronze-red blush on the exposed cheek; dots many, small, grayish and russet, conspicuous; flesh yellowish-white, firm, granular at the center, tender, very juicy, very sweet and aromatic; quality good; core closed, with clasping corelines; calyx-tube short, wide, conical; seeds large, wide, long, plump, acute, broad at the base.

— U.P. Hedrick, Cyclopedia of Hardy Fruits (1922)

And very good quality, firm ripening and strong constitution. Hardy, good shipping. Like a grower, it is always under strong demand. Everything in its...The [something]...

— Stark Bros. Nurseries & Orchards Co., Stark Bros. Year Book (1910) (1910)