Duchesse d'Hiver
PearDuchesse d'Hiver
Origin/History
Originated in southern France. Hedrick (1921) records that M. Barthere, Sr., a nurseryman of Toulouse, found this pear in 1845 near Calmont on one of his travels through southern France. Downing (1900) attributes the origin to M. Barthere at Toulouse. The variety is also known as Tardive de Toulouse and Winter Duchess.
Tree
Downing describes the tree as a vigorous, handsome grower and an early bearer. Hedrick characterizes it differently — as moderately vigorous, characteristically small and pyramidal — a conflict in both size and vigor assessment. Young wood is olive yellow brown (Downing).
Fruit
Size: Large, as agreed by both sources.
Form: Downing describes the shape as obovate pyriform with an uneven surface; Hedrick describes it as roundish-pyriform. These differ in the degree of taper.
Stem: Stout (Downing).
Cavity: Slight and uneven, in which the stout stalk is set (Downing).
Calyx: Not described in source.
Basin: Not described in source.
Skin: Downing describes the skin as dull greenish, with brownish dull russet shades and spots. Hedrick describes the color simply as light yellow — a notable conflict in ground color.
Flesh/Flavor: Both sources agree the flesh is white and juicy. Downing adds that it is pretty fine-grained, mild, sweet, and pleasant, rating it Very good. Hedrick qualifies it as not a pear of highest quality, though worthy of notice for its large size and long keeping.
Core/Seeds: Not described in source.
Season
Downing gives December to April. Hedrick states it matures in winter and late spring. The sources are consistent in placing it as a long-keeping winter pear.
Uses
Notable for its large size and exceptionally long keeping period (Hedrick).
Subtypes/Variants
Not described in source.
Other
Not described in source.
Book Sources
Described in 2 period pomological works
View original book sources (2)
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Duchesse d'Hiver.
Tardive de Toulouse. Winter Duchess.
Originated with M. Barthere, at Toulouse, France. Tree a vigorous handsome grower, and an early bearer. Young wood olive yellow brown.
Fruit large, obovate pyriform, uneven surface, dull greenish, with brownish dull russet shades and spots. Stalk stout, set in a slight uneven cavity. Flesh white, juicy, pretty fine-grained, mild, sweet, pleasant. Very good. December to April.
— U.P. Hedrick, The Pears of New York (1921)Duchesse d'Hiver. i. Downing Fr. Trees Am. 749. 1869. Tardive de Toulouse. 2. Leroy Diet. Pom. 2:693, n°1869. M. Barthere, Sr., a nurseryman of Toulouse, Fr., found this pear in 1845 near Calmont on one of his travels through southern France. Tree moderately vigorous, characteristically small and pyramidal. Fruit large, roundish-pyriform, light yellow; flesh white, juicy; matures in winter and late spring. Although not a pear of highest quality it is worthy of notice because of its large size and long keeping.