Duchesse Précoce

Pear

Duchesse Précoce

Origin/History

Originated in the nurseries of André Leroy, Angers, France, from a seed bed of Duchesse d'Angoulême sown in 1850. (Hedrick cites Leroy, Dict. Pom. 2:113, fig. 1869.)

Tree

Strong and vigorous, moderately productive. (Downing.)

Not described in source. (Hedrick.)

Fruit

Size: Downing describes fruit as medium to large. Hedrick describes it as large and often very large.

Form: Downing describes the shape as long pyriform, a little obtuse. Hedrick describes it as ovate — a conflicting characterization.

Stem: Of medium length, rather stout, inclined, inserted in a slight depression, sometimes a small cavity. (Downing.)

Cavity: Slight depression at insertion, sometimes a small cavity. (Downing.) Not described in source. (Hedrick.)

Calyx: Large, open. (Downing.) Not described in source. (Hedrick.)

Basin: Shallow, uneven. (Downing.) Not described in source. (Hedrick.)

Skin: Downing describes the skin as pale yellow, shaded and mottled with pale red where exposed to the sun, and covered with many small russet dots. Hedrick describes it as golden-yellow, sprinkled with large greenish dots, slightly carmined on the cheek exposed to the sun. The two sources conflict on dot character (small russet vs. large greenish) and agree that the sun-exposed cheek shows red/carmine coloring.

Flesh/Flavor: Downing: whitish, a little coarse, juicy, half melting, sweet, slightly vinous, and a little astringent; rated good. Hedrick: very white, breaking or semi-melting, with seeds usually absent, juicy, sweet; flavor agreeable; rated second. The two sources conflict on texture (half melting vs. breaking or semi-melting) and quality rating (good vs. second); Hedrick's note of usual seed absence is not mentioned by Downing.

Core/Seeds: Seeds usually absent. (Hedrick.) Not described in source. (Downing.)

Season

Downing gives ripening as the first of September. Hedrick gives August — a conflict between the two sources.

Uses

Not described in source.

Subtypes/Variants

Not described in source.

Other

Not described in source.

Book Sources

Described in 2 period pomological works

View original book sources (2)

Duchesse Précoce.

Originated in the nurseries of André Leroy, Angers, France. Tree strong and vigorous, moderately productive.

Fruit medium to large, long pyriform, a little obtuse; skin pale yellow, shaded and mottled with pale red where exposed to the sun, and covered with many small russet dots; stalk of medium length, rather stout, inclined, inserted in a slight depression, sometimes small cavity; calyx large, open; basin shallow, uneven; flesh whitish, a little coarse, juicy, half melting, sweet, slightly vinous, and a little astringent; good. Ripe first of September.

— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)

Duchesse Précoce. i. Leroy Diet. Pom. 2:113, fig. 1869. Came from a seed bed of Duchesse d'Angoulême made in 1850 by André Leroy. Fruit large and often very large, ovate, golden-yellow, sprinkled with large greenish dots, slightly carmined on the cheek exposed to the sun; flesh very white, breaking or semi-melting, with seeds usually absent, juicy, sweet; flavor agreeable; second; Aug.

— U.P. Hedrick, The Pears of New York (1921)

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