Duc d'Aumale
PearDuc d'Aumale
Origin/History
Duc d'Aumale is a seedling of Van Mons', originating at the Van Mons nursery at Louvain, where it first fruited in 1847 (Hedrick). The variety is of Belgian origin (Thomas). It appears in Leroy, Dict. Pom. 2:91 (1869) and Hogg, Fruit Man. 568 (1884). Downing and Thomas both record it under the name Gedeon Paridant.
Tree
Of vigorous growth and productive habit. Young wood reddish yellow brown (Downing).
Fruit
Size and Form
Sources are in mild disagreement on size: Downing and Thomas both describe the fruit as medium, while Hedrick describes it as small. Form is consistently obtuse pyriform across all three sources; Hedrick further specifies turbinate-obtuse-pyriform.
Stem
The stalk is rather long and a little curved (Downing).
Cavity
Not described in source.
Calyx
Calyx large and open (Downing).
Basin
Not described in source.
Skin
Sources differ in their descriptions of the skin. Downing describes it as pale yellow, shaded and marbled with brownish red in the sun, with slight netting and patches of russet and many russet dots. Hedrick describes it as rough, greenish-yellow, mottled all over with cinnamon-colored russet, with no mention of sun-side reddening. Thomas notes only greenish-yellow.
Flesh and Flavor
Flesh is whitish (Downing, Hedrick) and melting (Hedrick, Thomas) and juicy (Downing, Hedrick, Thomas). Downing characterizes the flavor as sweet and aromatic; Hedrick describes it as sugary, acidulous, and perfumed; Thomas describes it as brisk and excellent. Quality rated good to very good (Downing), first (Hedrick), and excellent (Thomas).
Core and Seeds
Not described in source.
Season
September (Downing, Thomas). Hedrick extends the season through October.
Uses
Not described in source.
Subtypes/Variants
Not described in source.
Book Sources
Described in 3 period pomological works
View original book sources (3)
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Duc d'Aumale.
Gedeon Paridant.
A seedling of Van Mons', of vigorous growth and productive habit, young wood reddish yellow brown.
Fruit medium, slightly obtuse pyriform. Skin pale yellow, shaded and marbled with brownish red in the sun, slight netting and patches of russet, and many russet dots. Stalk rather long, a little curved. Calyx large, open. Flesh whitish, juicy, sweet, aromatic. Good to very good. September.
— U.P. Hedrick, The Pears of New York (1921)Duc d'Aumale.
- Leroy Dict. Pom. 2:91, fig. 1869.
- Hogg Fruit Man. 568. 1884. A product of the Van Mons nursery at Louvain where it first fruited in 1847. Fruit small, turbinate-obtuse-pyriform; skin rough, greenish-yellow mottled all over with cinnamon-colored russet; flesh whitish, melting and juicy, sugary, acidulous, perfumed; first; Sept. and Oct.
— John J. Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)Gedeon Paridant. Medium, obtuse pyriform, greenish-yellow; juicy, melting, brisk, excellent. September. Belgian.