THE DOYENNÉ D'ÉTÉ PEAR.

Doyenné d'Été. Théorie Van Mons, (Mag. of Hort., vol. xiii. p. 66.) Doyenné de Juillet, Thompson, in Gard. Chronicle, 1847. Summer Doyenné, Fruits and Fruit Trees of America.

The number of really good early pears is so exceedingly limited, that every addition to the list is viewed with great interest by the zealous cultivator. The early pears generally cultivated, with few exceptions, are small and inferior-flavored, and, indeed, scarcely worth growing, — certainly not by amateur cultivators for their own use. It is, therefore, with no little gratification that we introduce to greater notice the Doyenné d'Été, a variety of recent introduction to American collections, and, as yet, but little disseminated. In France, it is a tolerably well-known pear, but its cultivation seems to have been confined to the vicinity of Nantes, where it is raised abundantly, and is esteemed as one of the best early pears. It ripens fully as early as the Madeleine; and the fruit, which is equal in quality to that old variety, has the merit of being far more beautiful, having a fair yellow skin, with a brilliant red cheek. All its qualities considered, it must claim a place in every good collection.

The Doyenné d'Été was first brought to the notice of American pomologists by Mr. Kenrick, who published a description of the pear from M. Poiteau's work, entitled Théorie Van Mons, as long ago as 1836. It does not, however, appear to have been introduced until 1843, at which period we received trees from Paris, which grew rapidly, and, in 1845, came into bearing. It is stated, in the Bon Jardinier, that it was first introduced to Paris by M. Noisette, in 1830; but, as it is not enumerated in the latest Catalogue of the London Horticultural Society, (1842,) we apprehend it had not become generally known to cultivators.

After the experience of three years, we consider the Doyenné d'Été as deserving a rank among the best early varieties. The tree is a vigorous and healthy grower, a most abundant as well as an early bearer, and it succeeds finely upon the quince, coming into fruit, on young trees, only two years from the bud. The specimens have also been uniformly fair. Like most summer pears, some care is necessary in gathering the fruit; to have it in the best condition, it should be picked just as it changes from green to yellow; if gathered too soon, it will not have attained its rich flavor, — and, if too late, it will have lost it. But if taken from the tree at the proper time, it will ripen off in the house, and possess a flesh as melting as the White Doyenné.

Tree. — Vigorous, with an erect and upright habit, branching regularly; annual shoots moderately stout, and slightly curved at the ends.

Wood. — Clear olive yellow, with pale brown specks, and rather short-jointed; old wood grayish olive; buds medium size, shortly pointed, and slightly diverging: Flower-buds medium size, ovate.

Leaves. — Medium size, oblong-ovate, narrow, tapering much to the point, little recurved on the midrib, partially drooping, and regularly but not very deeply serrated; petioles long, about one and a half inches in length, and rather slender.

Flowers. — Medium size; petals thick, obovate, and cupped.

Fruit. — Medium size, about two inches long, and two inches in diameter: Form, roundish-turbinate, largest in the middle, tapering roundly to the stem, where it is obtuse: Skin, fair, smooth, pale yellowish green, becoming nearly yellow when mature, broadly shaded and marbled with brilliant red on the sunny side, and dotted with greenish russet specks: Stem, rather long, about one and a quarter inches, moderately stout, yellowish brown, slightly fleshy at the base, and obliquely inserted, without any cavity, under a slight projection: Eye, small, closed, and inserted in a very shallow basin; segments of the calyx short, stiff, projecting: Flesh, yellowish white, little coarse, melting, buttery and juicy: Flavor, rich, sugary, sprightly, pleasantly perfumed, and excellent: Core, medium size: Seeds, small, flattened, dark brown.

Ripe the end of July and beginning of August.

[Additional entry in this volume: "THE DOYENNE D'ETE PEAR", pp. 141–142]

THE DOYENNE D'ETE PEAR.

Doyenné d'Eté. Théorie Van Mons, (Mag. of Hort., vol. xiii. p. 66.) Doyenné de Juillet, Thompson, in Gard. Chronicle, 1847. Summer Doyenné, Fruits and Fruit Trees of America,

The number of really good early pears is so exceedingly limited, that every addition to the list is viewed with great interest by the zealous cultivator. The early pears generally cultivated, with few exceptions, are small and inferior-flavored, and, indeed, scarcely worth growing,—certainly not by amateur cultivators for their own use. It is, therefore, with no little gratification that we introduce to greater notice the Doyenné d'Eté, a variety of recent introduction to American collections, and, as yet, but little disseminated. In France, it is a tolerably well-known pear, but its cultivation seems to have been confined to the vicinity of Nantes, where it is raised abundantly, and is esteemed as one of the best early pears. It ripens fully as early as the Madeleine; and the fruit, which is equal in quality to that old variety, has the merit of being far more beautiful, having a fair yellow skin, with a brilliant red cheek. All its qualities considered, it must claim a place in every good collection.

The Doyenné d'Eté was first brought to the notice of American pomologists by Mr. Kenrick, who published a description of the pear from M. Poiteau's work, entitled Théorie Van Mons, as long ago as 1836. It does not, however, appear to have been introduced until 1843, at which period we received trees from Paris, which grew rapidly, and, in 1845, came into bearing. It is stated, in the Bon Jardinier, that it was first introduced to Paris by M. Noisette, in 1830; but, as it is not enumerated in the latest Catalogue of the London Horticultural Society, (1842,) we apprehend it had not become generally known to cultivators.

After the experience of three years, we consider the Doyenné d'Eté as deserving a rank among the best early varieties. The tree is a vigorous and healthy grower, a most abundant as well as an early bearer, and it succeeds finely upon the quince, coming into fruit, on young trees, only two years from the bud. The specimens have also been uniformly fair. Like most summer pears, some care is necessary in gathering the fruit; to have it in the best condition, it should be picked just as it changes from green to yellow; if gathered too soon, it will not have attained its rich flavor,—and, if too late, it will have lost it. But if taken from the tree at the proper time, it will ripen off in the house, and possess a flesh as melting as the White Doyenné.

Tree.—Vigorous, with an erect and upright habit, branching regularly; annual shoots moderately stout, and slightly curved at the ends.

Wood.—Clear olive yellow, with pale brown specks, and rather short-jointed; old wood grayish olive; buds medium size, shortly pointed, and slightly diverging: Flower-buds medium size, ovate.

Leaves.—Medium size, oblong-ovate, narrow, tapering much to the point, little recurved on the midrib, partially drooping, and regularly but not very deeply serrated; petioles long, about one and a half inches in length, and rather slender.

Flowers.—Medium size; petals thick, obovate, and cupped.

Fruit.—Medium size, about two inches long, and two inches in diameter: Form, roundish-turbinate, largest in the middle, tapering roundly to the stem, where it is obtuse: Skin, fair, smooth, pale yellowish green, becoming nearly yellow when mature, broadly shaded and marbled with brilliant red on the sunny side, and dotted with greenish russet specks: Stem, rather long, about one and a quarter inches, moderately stout, yellowish brown, slightly fleshy at the base, and obliquely inserted, without any cavity, under a slight projection: Eye, small, closed, and inserted in a very shallow basin; segments of the calyx short, stiff, projecting: Flesh, yellowish white, little coarse, melting, buttery and juicy: Flavor, rich, sugary, sprightly, pleasantly perfumed, and excellent: Core, medium size: Seeds, small, flattened, dark brown.

Ripe the end of July and beginning of August.

— C.M. Hovey, The Fruits of America (1852)

Planted Spring 1890. Tree a strong grower but only moderately productive. Fruit small, roundish, pyriform. Skin smooth pale yellowish white, and sprinkled with gray dots. Flesh white, melting, juicy, sweet and of pleasant flavour. Season July.

— Central Experimental Farm, Central Experimental Farm, Agassiz BC — Catalogue of Fruit Trees under Test (Bulletin No. 3, 1900) (1900)

medium, melting, juicy, sweet pear. Excellent in flavour. Very productive Sept.

— James Veitch & Sons, Veitch's Fruit Trees (1911) (1911)