Early Summer Pearmain
AppleEarly Summer Pearmain
Origin/History
Supposed to be of American origin. It is an old variety, first described in 1817 by Coxe, with references extending from M'Mahon (1806) through the early twentieth century. It was listed by the American Pomological Society in 1852.
There is also another Summer Pearmain — the English Summer Pearmain — which ripens somewhat later and is a distinct variety.
Tree
The tree is of slender, slow growth in the nursery, which makes it unpopular with nurserymen. In the orchard, however, it makes a large, productive tree. It is not profitable as a market variety (Beach). The crop ripens in succession through a period of nearly two months, making it desirable for family use.
Fruit
Size: Medium.
Form: Variable — oblong or roundish inclined to conic, sometimes oblate.
Stem: Medium to long.
Cavity: Deep, acute, regular.
Calyx: Large, open or closed.
Basin: Medium size, abrupt, slightly wrinkled.
Skin: Smooth, greenish-yellow, more or less covered with dull purplish-red, marbled, splashed and striped with brighter red. Dots minute.
Flesh/Flavor: Yellowish, very fine, tender, almost melting, juicy, aromatic, crisp, mild subacid; rated best. When perfect, described as beautiful and of mild, rich, excellent flavor.
Core/Seeds: Core medium to small, roundish; cells closed. Seeds small, pointed.
Season
August and September. The crop ripens in succession over a period of nearly two months.
Uses
Suitable for both culinary and dessert purposes. Recommended for family use rather than commercial markets. Described as an amateur fruit.
Subtypes/Variants
Not described in source.
Other
Encyclopedia of Practical Horticulture (Lowther, 1914): Description absent; variety present in variety-characteristic table.
Summer Pearmain.. M | ob | yr | B | f | S | 5* | 17* | 1*
Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903): [NOTE: Source text may be incorrect — the 1903 Thomas edition cross-references this variety to a different entry entirely: "Summer Pearmain. See Autumn Pearmain." This may reflect a later editorial reorganization or a conflation of Summer Pearmain with Autumn Pearmain in that edition. The 1849 Thomas edition, by contrast, is cited by Beach as an independent description (with figure). No descriptive content is salvageable from the 1903 entry.]
Book Sources
Described in 3 period pomological works
Nursery Catalog Sources
Found in 2 catalogs (1894–1912) from Oregon, Washington
- Multnomah Nurseries , Russellville , Oregon — 1894
- Ballygreen Nurseries , Hanford , Washington — 1912
View original book sources (3)
— S.A. Beach, The Apples of New York, Vol. 2 (1905)SUMMER PEARMAIN.
REFERENCES. 1. M'Mahon, Amer. Gard. Cal., 1806:585. 2. Coxe, 1817:104. fig. 3. Cobbett, 1821:par. 300. 4. Thacher, 1822:138. 5. Buel, N. Y. Bd. Agr. Mem., 1826:476. 6. Fessenden, 1828:129. 7. Kenrick, 1832:25. 8. Mag. Hort., 1:398. 1835. 9. Manning, 1838:47. 10. Ib., Mag. Hort., 7:49. 1841. 11. Downing, 1845:70. 12. Horticulturist, 2:544. 1848. 13. Thomas, 1849:136. fig. 14. Cole, 1849:103. 15. Phœnix, Horticulturist, 4:472. 1850. 16. Emmons, Nat. Hist. N. Y., 3:11. 1851. fig. 17. Barry, 1851:279. 18. Am. Pom. Soc. Cat., 1852. 19. Elliott, 1854:64. fig. 20. Hooper, 1857:12, 106, 108. 21. Gregg, 1857:35. 22. Warder, 1867:582. fig. 23. Downing, 1869:78. fig. 24. Fitz, 1872:143, 160. 25. Hogg, 1884:7. 26. Lyon, Mich. Hort. Soc. Rpt., 1890:298. 27. Bailey, An. Hort., 1892:234. 28. Ib., 1892:250. 29. Budd-Hansen, 1903:182. fig.
SYNONYMS. AMERICAN PEARMAIN (19). American Pear-main (20). American Summer (26). AMERICAN SUMMER PEARMAIN (7, 8, 11, 12, 13, 14, 16, 17, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 27). American Summer Pearmain (19, 29). EARLY SUMMER PEARMAIN (2, 5, 6). Early Summer Pear-main (7, 11, 14, 16, 19, 23, 25, of Coxe 13). SUMMER PEARMAIN (1, 3, 4, 9, 10, 15, 18, 26, 28, 29). Summer Pearmain (14). Watkins Early (19, 20).
An amateur fruit which when perfect is beautiful and of mild, rich, excellent flavor (26). The tree being of slender, slow growth in the nursery is not a favorite with nurserymen and although it makes a large productive tree in the orchard it is not profitable as a market variety (22). It is desirable for family use because the fruit is suitable both for culinary and dessert purposes and the crop ripens in succession through a period of nearly two months. There is also another Summer Pearmain or English Summer Pearmain which ripens somewhat later.¹
Historical. Supposed to be of American origin. It is an old variety; first described in 1817 by Coxe.
FRUIT (11, 14, 22, 23). Fruit of medium size. Form variable, oblong or roundish inclined to conic, sometimes oblate. Stem medium to long. Cavity deep, acute, regular. Calyx large, open or closed. Basin medium size, abrupt, slightly wrinkled. Skin smooth, greenish-yellow, more or less covered with dull purplish-red, marbled, splashed and striped with brighter red. Dots minute. Core medium to small, roundish; cells closed. Seeds small, pointed. Flesh yellowish, very fine, tender, almost melting, juicy, aromatic, crisp, mild subacid, best. Season August and September.
¹ Ragan, U. S. B. P. I. Bul., 66:300. 1905.
— Granville Lowther (ed.), Encyclopedia of Practical Horticulture (1914)Summer Pearmain.. M | ob | yr | B | f | S | 5* | 17* | 1*
— John J. Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)Summer Pearmain. See Autumn Pearmain.