Doyenne Rose
PearDoyenne Rose
Origin and History
Raised from a seed bed made in 1820 by Edouard Sageret, author of Pomologie physiologique; it bore fruit first in 1830. Described in Leroy's Dictionnaire de Pomologie (2:82, fig., 1869) and Mas's Pomologie Générale (5:21, fig. 299, 1880).
Tree
No tree characteristics are recorded in the available sources.
Fruit
Size and Form: Above medium. The two authoritative sources differ on shape: Downing describes the fruit as obovate and obscurely pyriform; Hedrick describes it as globular and irregular.
Stem: Short (Downing).
Cavity: Small (Downing).
Calyx: Small (Downing).
Basin: Deep, regular (Downing).
Skin: The two sources are compatible but use differing terminology. Downing describes the skin as yellow, beautifully shaded with crimson. Hedrick describes it as yellow-ochre on the shaded side and beautiful rose on the side exposed to the sun.
Flesh and Flavor: White (Hedrick: very white). Granular, with very little flavor or perfume. The sources diverge slightly on texture: Downing calls it coarse and granular; Hedrick calls it semi-melting and granular. Juice scarcely sufficient (Hedrick). Downing notes the fruit rots at the core.
Season
October. Downing specifies the last of October.
Quality and Uses
Second quality (Hedrick). Downing rates it Poor. Of limited value for fresh eating given the meager juice, little flavor, and tendency to rot at the core.
Book Sources
Described in 2 period pomological works
View original book sources (2)
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Doyenne Rose.
Fruit above medium, obovate, obscurely pyriform. Skin yellow, beautifully shaded with crimson. Stem short. Cavity small. Calyx small; deep, regular basin. Flesh white, coarse, granular, with very little flavor. Rots at the core. Poor. Last of October.
— U.P. Hedrick, The Pears of New York (1921)Doyenne Rose.
- Leroy Diet. Pom. 2:82, fig. 1869.
- Mas Pom. Gen. 5:21, fig. 299. 1880.
From a seed bed made in 1820 by Edouard Sageret, author of Pomologie physiologique; it bore fruit first in 1830.
Fruit above medium, globular, irregular, yellow-ochre on the shaded side and beautiful rose on the side of the sun; flesh very white, semi-melting, granular; juice scarcely sufficient, little perfume or flavor; second; Oct.