Early Summer Bergamot

Origin/History

Early Summer Bergamot is an old foreign variety, according to Downing. Coxe, writing in 1817, lists it as one of the finest pears of its season. Downing rates it as second quality. Coxe's volume includes a second entry for the variety at page 270 under the name "Summer Bergamot" (No. 5), which appears to be the same fruit under a shortened title.

Tree

All sources agree the tree is notably weak-growing. Coxe describes it as "the least vigorous pear tree in our country," of moderate size, and notes it is of great hardiness and free from blight. Downing similarly records the tree as being of feeble growth.

Downing separately describes a Large Summer Bergamot as an entirely distinct variety whose tree "grows and bears finely" — in marked contrast to Early Summer Bergamot's feeble habit.

Fruit

Size

Small to quite small, consistent across all three sources.

Form

Round. All sources agree.

Stem

Not described in sources.

Cavity

Not described in sources.

Calyx

Not described in sources.

Basin

Not described in sources.

Skin

Coxe describes the skin as green and full of small russet spots when unripe, becoming yellow at full ripeness. Downing gives the color as yellowish green. Thomas describes it as greenish-yellow. The sources are consistent: the ground color shifts from green toward yellow as the fruit matures, with Coxe alone noting the russet spotting.

Flesh and Flavor

The sources agree on the basic character but emphasize different aspects. Coxe writes that the flesh is rich and sprightly, and calls it "a highly flavoured juicy fruit if gathered from the tree," stressing that timing of harvest is critical: when too ripe, "it becomes dry, and loses its flavour." Downing describes the flesh as juicy and pretty rich in flavor, but notes it "quickly becomes mealy and dry." Thomas records it as juicy and rich, likewise noting it becomes dry.

All sources thus converge: the fruit is juicy and rich at its peak but deteriorates rapidly, becoming dry — mealy according to Downing — if allowed to overripen.

Core and Seeds

Not described in sources.

Season

Coxe places the fruit in perfection from the middle to the end of July. Downing gives the last of July. Thomas records early August. The ripening window across sources spans mid-July to early August.

Uses

Best eaten directly from the tree before overripening. Coxe is explicit that gathering from the tree is essential to the flavor; once past peak ripeness the fruit becomes dry and flavorless.

Subtypes/Variants

Downing records a Large Summer Bergamot as "quite distinct from the above." Its flesh is described as breaking and half buttery, not rich — a different texture profile from Early Summer Bergamot's juicy richness. It ripens in September, considerably later than Early Summer Bergamot, and its tree grows and bears finely, again in contrast to the feeble habit of Early Summer Bergamot.

Other

Not described in sources.