Duchesse de Bordeaux
PearDuchesse de Bordeaux
Origin/History
Originated with M. Secher in the Commune of Montjean, Department of Maine-et-Loire, France. In 1850, Secher purchased pear trees from M. Perrault of Montrevault. Ten years passed before one of the trees produced the excellent fruit here described. Secher invited many persons to taste it, in particular MM. Perrault and Baptiste Desportes. The variety later fruited with M. Perrault, who named it Beurre Perrault. Secher affirmed he had properly given the variety the name of Duchesse de Bordeaux. Downing locates the origin more broadly as "near Angers, France, in 1850."
Tree
The two sources differ on vigor: Downing describes the tree as moderately vigorous, while Hedrick describes it as large, vigorous, and upright. Young wood dull olive brown (Downing).
Fruit
Size and Form: The sources disagree on size — Downing calls the fruit medium, Hedrick calls it large. Both agree on the form: roundish-pyriform, with Downing specifying it inclines to obtuse pyriform.
Stem: Rather long and thick (Hedrick); Downing adds that the stalk is stout, fleshy at its insertion, and often terminated by a lip.
Cavity: Moderately deep, acute (Hedrick).
Calyx: Large, open (Hedrick; Downing concurs on open).
Basin: Moderately deep (Hedrick); medium and uneven (Downing).
Skin: The sources give partially differing accounts. Hedrick describes the skin as thick, very tough, and rough, greenish-yellow in ground color, with mottlings and patches of russet. Downing describes the color as yellow (not greenish), netted and traced with russet, and sprinkled with russet dots.
Flesh/Flavor: The sources differ in detail. Downing describes the flesh as white, moderately juicy, sweet, and pleasant, rating it Good. Hedrick describes it as yellowish-white, firm, granular, and juicy, with a mild flavor, also rating it good.
Season
Downing: December to February. Hedrick: November and December.
Uses
Not described in source.
Subtypes/Variants
Not described in source.
Other
Not described in source.
Book Sources
Described in 2 period pomological works
Nursery Catalog Sources
Found in 20 catalogs (1891–1921) from Alabama, England, Illinois, Missouri, Oregon, Washington
- Missouri Nursery Co. , Louisiana , Missouri — 1891
- The Vineland Nurseries (Kelsey & Co. , Proprietors), St. Joseph, Missouri (Office: 13th and Atchison Sts., 2 Blocks East of the Citizens St. Car Line) — 1894
- Woodburn Nurseries , Woodburn, Marion Co. , Oregon — 1894
- J.V. Cotta (Cotta Nursery) , Carroll County , Illinois — 1898
- Alabama Nursery Co. , Huntsville , Alabama — 1900
- Alabama Nursery Co. , Huntsville , Alabama — 1900
- George Bunyard & Co. , Royal Nurseries, Maidstone, Kent , England — 1900
- Phoenix Nursery Company (W. E. Rossney , President; Sidney Tuttle, Vice-President), Bloomington , Illinois — 1904
- Island Nurseries & Fruit Farm , Vashon (Vashon Island) , Washington — 1910
- Island Nurseries & Fruit Farm , Vashon (Vashon Island) , Washington — 1911
- James Veitch & Sons , Ltd., Royal Exotic Nursery, Chelsea, London (also Coombe Wood, Langley, and Feltham) , England — 1911
- *Better Fruit* magazine article — 1913
- Thomas Rivers & Son , Sawbridgeworth, Hertfordshire , England — 1913
- George Bunyard & Co. , Royal Nurseries, Maidstone, Kent , England — 1914
- Island Nurseries & Fruit Farm , Vashon (Vashon Island) , Washington — 1914
- Island Nurseries & Fruit Farm , Vashon (Vashon Island) , Washington — 1915
- Island Nurseries & Fruit Farm , Vashon (Vashon Island) , Washington — 1916
- Island Nurseries & Fruit Farm , Vashon (Vashon Island) , Washington — 1917
- George Bunyard & Co. , Royal Nurseries, Maidstone, Kent , England — 1917
- Island Nurseries & Fruit Farm , Vashon , Washington — 1921
View original book sources (2)
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Duchesse de Bourdeaux.
Beurre Perrault.
Originated with M. Secher, near Angers, France, in 1850. Tree moderately vigorous. Young wood dull olive brown.
Fruit medium, roundish, inclining to obtuse pyriform. Skin yellow, netted and traced with russet, and sprinkled with russet dots. Stalk long, stout, fleshy at insertion, often by a lip. Calyx open. Basin medium, uneven. Flesh white, moderately juicy, sweet, pleasant. Good. December to February.
— U.P. Hedrick, The Pears of New York (1921)Duchesse de Bordeaux.
- Leroy Dict. Pom. 2:105, fig. 1869. 2. Hogg Fruit Man. 570. 1884. 3. Bunyard Handb. Hardy Fr. 171. 1920.
Beurre Perrault. 4. Mas Le Verger 1:133, fig. 65. 1866-73.
Bordeaux. 5. Cal. Com. Hort. Pear Grow. Col. 7:No. 5, 242. 1918.
M. Secher, in the Commune of Montjean, Department of Maine-et-Loire, Fr., bought in 1850 from M. Perrault, Montrevault, some pear trees. Ten years passed away and then one of the trees produced the excellent fruit here described. M. Secher invited many persons to taste it, in particular MM. Perrault and Baptiste Desportes. Later the variety fruited with M. Perrault and was named by him Beurre Perrault. Secher affirmed he had properly given the variety the name of Duchesse de Bordeaux.
Tree large, vigorous, upright.
Fruit large, roundish-pyriform; skin thick, very tough, rough, greenish-yellow, with mottlings and patches of russet; stem rather long, thick, set in a moderately deep, acute cavity; calyx large, open, placed in a moderately deep basin; flesh yellowish-white, firm, granular, juicy, mild; good; Nov. and Dec.