Double de Guerre
PearDouble de Guerre
Origin / History
Introduced to England from Mr. Stoeffels, of Mechlin (Bel.), about 1835. Bunyard could not find it in any foreign work. According to Thompson, the Dutch name is "Doppelte Krieges". Bunyard: "This hardy and excellent variety can be strongly recommended."
Tree
Hardy and productive. Growth very stout, compact; fertility excellent (Bunyard). Leaf large, pale green, edges undulating, irregularly serrate, down hanging.
Fruit
Size: Medium to above, fairly large; 3 by 4½ (Bunyard).
Form: Oval pyriform, even, tapering to the stem.
Stem: Short, stout, generally obliquely inserted.
Cavity: Not described in source.
Calyx: Open; eye nearly on the surface (Bunyard).
Basin: Shallow.
Skin: Rough. Yellow-brown, nearly covered with a dark purplish red flush.
Dots: Speckled with russet (Hedrick).
Flesh and flavor: Flesh yellow, firm, slightly acid.
Core and seeds: Not described in source.
Season
December to February.
Uses
Culinary. Bunyard: "quite one of the best cooking pears we grow."
Subtypes / Variants
Not described in source.
Other
Described in Trans. R.H.S., Series II, Vol. I, p. 328, and in Garden 56:426 (1899).
Book Sources
Described in 2 period pomological works
View original book sources (2)
— 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.
— 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.