Easter Bergamot
Pear
USDA Pomological Watercolor Collection
Easter Bergamot
Origin/History
An old French pear. Merlet wrote of it in 1675, calling it Bergamote de Pasques or the La Grilliere (Hedrick). The variety was early known in England: according to Switzer, trees of it were seen at Hampton Court growing against a wall said to have been erected by Queen Elizabeth, and which had every appearance of having stood there since that time (Hedrick). Elliott classes it as a foreign variety.
Tree
Not described in source.
Fruit
Size: Large (Coxe); medium or above (Elliott); medium (Thomas; Hedrick).
Form: Sources describe the shape variously as round and full, diminishing towards the stem (Coxe); roundish-obovate (Elliott; Thomas); and globular-turbinate, narrowing toward the stalk (Hedrick).
Stem: Short and thick (Coxe).
Cavity: Not described in source.
Calyx: Not described in source.
Basin: Not described in source.
Skin: Green, with small grey dots, inclining to yellow as it ripens (Coxe); greenish yellow (Elliott); pale green (Thomas); grayish-green, dull, changing to pale yellow, thickly dotted with brown (Hedrick).
Flesh/Flavor: White, half buttery, sprightly, and somewhat acid (Coxe); crisp, juicy, pleasant (Thomas); flesh white, semi-fine, gritty, breaking; juice sweet, acid, with not much perfume or flavor (Hedrick). Hedrick rates it second only, on account of its extreme lateness.
Core/Seeds: Not described in source.
Season
Sources give a wide range for the season. Coxe: in season from January to March. Elliott: February to May. Thomas gives two figures in the same volume — late October (p. 784) and late winter. Hedrick: March to May.
Uses
Not described in source. Hedrick notes the variety is valued chiefly for its extreme lateness.
Subtypes/Variants
Not described in source.
Other
Not described in source.
Book Sources
Described in 4 period pomological works
- Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903) — listed as Bergamot, Easter
- Coxe, A View of the Cultivation of Fruit Trees (1817) — listed as 43. Paddington, Or Easter Bergamot
- Elliott, The Western Fruit Book (1865)
- Hedrick, The Pears of New York (1921)
Nursery Catalog Sources
Found in 1 catalog (1864) from Oregon
- St. Helena Nursery , Howell's Prairie, Marion County , Oregon — 1864
View original book sources (4)
— William Coxe, A View of the Cultivation of Fruit Trees (1817)
- PADDINGTON, OR EASTER BERGAMOT.
This is a large fruit; of a round full shape, diminishing towards the stem, which is short and thick—the skin is green, with small grey dots, inclining to yellow as it ripens; the flesh is white, half buttery, sprightly, and somewhat acid: it is in season from January to March.
— F.R. Elliott, The Western Fruit Book (1865)Bergamot, Easter. Bergamot de Paques, Bergamot d'Hiver, Bergamot de Bugi, Bergamot de Toulouse, Winter Bergamot, Paddington, Royal Tairling, Terling, Robert's Keeping Foreign. Medium or above, roundish obovate, greenish yellow. February, May.
— John J. Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)Bergamot, Easter. Medium, roundish-obovate, pale green; crisp, juicy, pleasant. Late October.
[Additional entry in this volume: "Easter Bergamot", pp. 784–784]
Bergamot, Easter. Medium, roundish-obovate, pale green; crisp, juicy, pleasant. Late winter.
— U.P. Hedrick, The Pears of New York (1921)Easter Bergamot.
i. Downing Fr. Trees Am. 751. 1869. 2. Hogg Fruit Man. 572. 1884. Bergamote de Paques. 3. Leroy Dict. Pom. 1:250, fig. 1867.
An old French pear of which Merlet wrote in 1675, calling it Bergamote de Pasques or the La Grilliere. This variety was early known in England according to Switzer who saw trees of it at Hampton Court growing against a wall said to have been erected by Queen Elizabeth and which had every appearance of having stood there since that time. Fruit medium, globular-turbinate, narrowing toward the stalk, grayish-green, dull, changing to pale yellow, thickly dotted with brown; flesh white, semi-fine, gritty, breaking; juice sweet, acid, with not much perfume or flavor; second only, on account of its extreme lateness; Mar. to May.