Double de Guerre
PearDouble de Guerre
Origin/History
Introduced into England from Mr. Stoeffels, of Mechlin, Belgium, about 1835. According to Thompson, the Dutch name is Doppelte Krieges. Bunyard was unable to find it described in any foreign work. References: Garden 56:426 (1899); Bunyard, Handbook of Hardy Fruits, 167 (1920); Transactions of the R.H.S., Series II, Vol. I, 328.
Tree
Growth very stout and compact; fertility excellent. Hardy and productive. Leaves large, pale green, with undulating edges, irregularly serrate, and down-hanging.
Fruit
Size and Form: Medium to above (Hedrick); fairly large, measuring 3 inches by 4½ inches (Bunyard). Shape oval pyriform, even, tapering to the stem.
Stem: Short, stout, generally obliquely inserted.
Cavity: Not described in source.
Calyx/Eye: Open; set nearly on the surface in a shallow basin.
Basin: Shallow (Hedrick); eye described as open nearly on the surface, implying a very shallow basin (Bunyard).
Skin: Rough. Ground color yellow-brown. The two sources differ on surface marking: Hedrick describes the skin as speckled with russet; Bunyard describes the skin as nearly covered with a dark purplish red flush. These may reflect variation between specimens, seasons, or growing conditions.
Flesh: Yellow, firm, slightly acid.
Core/Seeds: Not described in source.
Season
December to February.
Uses
Culinary. Bunyard rates it highly: "This hardy and excellent variety can be strongly recommended. It is quite one of the best cooking pears we grow."
Subtypes/Variants
Not described in source.
Other
Not described in source.
Book Sources
Described in 2 period pomological works
View original book sources (2)
— U.P. Hedrick, The Pears of New York (1921)Double de Guerre.
- Garden 56:426. 1899.
- Bunyard Handb. Hardy Fr. 167. 1920. Introduced into England from Mechlin, Bel., about 1835. Tree hardy, productive. Fruit medium to above, pyriform, tapering to the stem, yellow-brown speckled with russet; stem short, stout, generally obliquely inserted; calyx open in a shallow basin; flesh yellow, firm, slightly acid; Dec. to Feb.
— E.A. Bunyard, A Handbook of Hardy Fruits (1920)DOUBLE DE GUERRE. Trans. R.H.S., Series II., Vol. I., 328. Culinary, December to February, fairly large, 3 by 4½, oval pyriform, even. Skin, rough. Colour, yellow brown, nearly covered with a dark purplish red flush. Flesh, yellow, firm, slightly acid. Eye, open nearly on surface. Stem, short, stout, generally obliquely inserted. Growth, very stout, compact ; fertility, excellent. Leaf, large, pale green, edges undulating, irregularly serrate, down hanging,
Origin, introduced to England from Mr. Stoeffels, of Mechlin, about 1835. I have not been able to find it in any foreign work. According to Thompson, the Dutch name is Doppelte Krieges. This hardy and excellent variety can be strongly recommended. It is quite one of the best cooking pears we grow.