Doyen Dillen
PearDoyen Dillen
Origin/History
One of Van Mons' pears. Hedrick specifies it was raised from seed sown by Van Mons at Louvain in 1827. Referenced in Annales de Pomologie Belge 4:27, fig. (1853) and Leroy, Dictionnaire de Pomologie 2:51, fig. (1869).
Tree
Vigorous and productive. Young wood olive yellow brown. (Hedrick does not describe the tree.)
Fruit
Size and Form: Downing describes the fruit as rather large and oblong pyriform. Hedrick gives medium to large, pyriform-conic.
Stem: Short, thick, and fleshy, strongly fixed, set without any depression. (Downing only.)
Cavity: Not described in source.
Calyx: Small, rarely open. (Downing only.)
Basin: Of moderate depth. (Downing only.)
Skin: Downing describes a fine yellow skin inclining to russet, thickly sprinkled with russet specks. Hedrick describes yellow, much covered with dots and patches of russet.
Flesh/Flavor: Flesh white (Hedrick), buttery and melting (both sources), free from grit (Hedrick), juicy (Downing), with juice rather abundant (Hedrick). Flavor sweet and rich (both sources), pleasantly perfumed (Hedrick).
Core/Seeds: Not described in source.
Season
October and November (Downing); November (Hedrick).
Uses
Not described in source.
Subtypes/Variants
Not described in source.
Other
Quality rated "Very good" by Downing; rated first quality by Hedrick. Also known as Deacon Dillen and Doctor Dillen (Downing).
Book Sources
Described in 2 period pomological works
View original book sources (2)
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Doyen Dillen.
Deacon Dillen. Doctor Dillen.
One of Van Mons' Pears. Tree vigorous, productive. Young wood olive yellow brown.
Fruit rather large, oblong pyriform. Skin fine yellow, inclining to russet, thickly sprinkled with russet specks. Stalk short, thick, and fleshy, strongly fixed, without any depression. Calyx small, rarely open. Basin of moderate depth. Flesh juicy, buttery, sweet, and rich. Very good. October, November.
— U.P. Hedrick, The Pears of New York (1921)Doyen Dillen.
- Ann. Pom. Belge 4:27, fig. 1853. 2. Leroy Diet. Pom. 2:51, fig. 1869.
From seed sown by Van Mons at Louvain in 1827. Fruit medium to large, pyriform-conic, yellow, much covered with dots and patches of russet; flesh white, buttery, melting, free from grit; juice rather abundant, sweet, rich and pleasantly perfumed; first; Nov.