Downton

Downton Pear

Origin/History

Raised by T. A. Knight at Downton Castle, England, about 1840 (Hedrick). Elliott classifies it as "Foreign." The Herefordshire Pomona notes its close resemblance to the Passe Colmar, remarking that the smallness of size is its chief defect compared to that variety.

Tree

Grows rapidly, in good form, and will bear the third year after grafting (Herefordshire Pomona). Not described in other sources.

Fruit

Size: Medium or above (Hedrick); medium (Elliott). The Herefordshire Pomona notes the fruit is very small when compared with the Passe Colmar.

Form: Oval, somewhat irregular (Hedrick); pyriform (Elliott).

Stem, Cavity, Calyx, Basin: Not described in sources.

Skin: Greenish-yellow changing to lemon-yellow, with a good deal of russet, particularly on the side next the sun, where it is completely covered and assumes a reddish-brown tinge (Hedrick). The Herefordshire Pomona describes the skin as yellowish cinnamon colour with very little red on one side. Elliott gives the color simply as yellowish brown.

Flesh/Flavor: Sources conflict on flesh color: Hedrick describes the flesh as whitish, not quite melting but tender, fine, free from grit, agreeably acidulous, sweet and juicy, with some taste of orange. The Herefordshire Pomona describes the flesh as yellow, juicy, rich, and excellent. Quality rated first-class (Hedrick).

Core/Seeds: Not described in sources.

Season

Sources differ somewhat: the Herefordshire Pomona gives the season as November in its brief heading, but the descriptive text states the fruit becomes yellow early in December and that its proper season is February. Hedrick gives November and December. Elliott gives December and January.

Uses

Not described in sources.

Subtypes/Variants

Not described in sources.

Other

The Herefordshire Pomona was published with a coloured figure of this variety.