Duchesse de Berry d'Été
Pear
Duchesse de Berry d'Été
Origin / History
Foreign variety (Elliott). Raised in a seed bed in the Commune of Saint-Herblain, Department of Loire-Inférieure, France, in 1827 (Hedrick). Downing states it originated at Nantes, France. Elliott notes that this name has sometimes been applied to the Duchesse d'Angoulême, which is entirely distinct, and remarks that "The Duchess de Berri is a synonym of 'Pound.'" Hedrick cites Leroy's Dictionnaire de Pomologie 2:104 (1869, with figure) and Hogg's Fruit Manual p. 569 (1884).
Tree
Moderately vigorous, spreading, with reddish brown shoots (Elliott). Downing describes the tree as vigorous and upright, with young wood dark reddish. Thomas notes shoots stout, light greenish.
Fruit
Size: Medium (Elliott, Hedrick); small (Downing, Thomas).
Form: Roundish obovate (Elliott); roundish oblate, obscurely pyriform (Downing); roundish, sometimes oblate, occasionally approaching obovate (Thomas); globular-turbinate (Hedrick).
Stem / Stalk: Short (Elliott); short, inserted in a small cavity (Downing); short, slightly sunk (Thomas).
Cavity: Small (Downing); the stalk is slightly sunk (Thomas).
Calyx: Small (Elliott); partially open (Downing).
Basin: Broad and shallow (Downing); shallow (Thomas).
Skin: Clear pale yellow, dotted with small russet specks (Elliott); yellow, shaded with light red, with nettings and patches of russet (Downing); yellow, sometimes shaded light red (Thomas); yellow, dotted with dark gray (Hedrick).
Flesh / Flavor: Yellowish white, rather coarse, melting, juicy, sugary (Elliott); juicy, melting, with a good vinous flavor — rated good to very good (Downing); juicy and melting, flavor "very good" (Thomas); very white, semi-fine, melting, with abundant juice that is sugary and aromatic — rated first (Hedrick).
Core / Seeds: Seeds large (Elliott).
Season
September and October (Elliott); ripens last of August (Downing); end of August (Thomas); August and September (Hedrick).
Uses
Not described in source.
Subtypes / Variants
Not described in source.
Other
Not described in source.
Book Sources
Described in 4 period pomological works
View original book sources (4)
— F.R. Elliott, The Western Fruit Book (1865)Duchess de Berri d'Ete. Souverain d'Eté, | Duchess of Berry. Foreign. This name has sometimes been applied to the Duchess of Angouleme, which is entirely distinct. Tree, moderately vigorous, spreading; shoots, reddish brown. Fruit, medium, roundish obovate, clear pale yellow, dotted with small russet specks; stem, short; calyx, small; seeds, large; flesh, yellowish white, rather coarse, melting, juicy, sugary. September and October. The Duchess de Berri is a synonym of "Pound."
[Additional entry in this volume: "Duchesse de Berry d'Été", pp. 384–384]
Duchess de Berri d'Été.
Souverain d'Été, | Duchess of Berry.
Foreign. This name has sometimes been applied to the Duchess of Angouleme, which is entirely distinct. Tree, moderately vigorous, spreading; shoots, reddish brown. Fruit, medium, roundish obovate, clear pale yellow, dotted with small russet specks; stem, short; calyx, small; seeds, large; flesh, yellowish white, rather coarse, melting, juicy, sugary. September and October. The Duchess de Berri is a synonym of "Pound."
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)DUCHESSE DE BERRY d'ÉTÉ.
Duchesse de Berry. Duchesse de Berry de Nantes.
Originated at Nantes, France. Tree vigorous, upright. Young wood dark reddish.
Fruit small, roundish oblate, obscurely pyriform. Skin yellow, shaded with light red, nettings and patches of russet. Stalk short, inserted in a small cavity. Calyx partially open, set in a broad shallow basin. Flesh juicy, melting, with a good vinous flavor. Good to very good. Ripens last of August.
— John J. Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)Duchesse de Berry d'Été. Small, roundish, sometimes oblate, occasionally approaching obovate; yellow, sometimes shaded light red; stalk short, slightly sunk, basin shallow; juicy and melting, flavor "very good." End of August. Shoots stout, light greenish.
— U.P. Hedrick, The Pears of New York (1921)Duchesse de Berry d'Été.
- Leroy Dict. Pom. 2:104. fig. 1869. 2. Hogg Fruit Man. 569. 1884. Raised in a seed bed in the Commune of Saint-Herblain, Department of Loire-Inferieure, Fr., in 1827. Fruit medium, globular-turbinate, yellow, dotted with dark gray; flesh very white, semi-fine, melting; juice abundant, sugary, aromatic; first; Aug. and Sept.