Eliot's Early
PearEliot's Early
Origin / History
Raised by Charles Eliot of Windsor, Ontario; Hedrick calls him Judge Charles Eliot and says the variety is said to have been raised from a cross between Madeleine and Doyenné d'Été. Downing describes it as a new early pear, specimens of which were received from James Dougall. Budd and Hansen also call it a new variety.
Tree
Tree very hardy, a strong, vigorous grower, an early bearer, very productive (Dougall, writing to Downing). Bears in clusters of three to six (Budd and Hansen). Doing well east of the lakes (Budd and Hansen).
Fruit
Size: Small (Downing, Hedrick); medium in size (Budd and Hansen).
Form: Pyriform, regular.
Stem: Long, slender, curved.
Cavity: Small, russeted.
Calyx: Closed or partially open.
Basin: Small, slightly plaited (Downing); Hedrick writes "base small."
Skin: Pale greenish yellow, brownish red where exposed to the sun; Budd and Hansen give yellowish green with red striping.
Dots: Not described in source.
Flesh and flavor: Flesh whitish, half fine, juicy, melting, sweet, with a slight perfume; juicy and vinous according to Budd and Hansen. Quality good to very good (Downing, Hedrick); Budd and Hansen say "very good."
Core and seeds: Not described in source.
Season
Early; July. Ripens a week or more before the Madeline (Dougall, writing to Downing).
Uses
Not described in source.
Subtypes / Variants
Not described in source.
Other
Hedrick cites the variety in the Report of the American Pomological Society, p. 52, 1871, and in the Rural New-Yorker, vol. 51, p. 602, figs. 242, 243, 1892.
Book Sources
Described in 3 period pomological works
- Downing, Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)
- Budd & Hansen, Systematic Pomology (1914) — listed as Eliot (Eliot's Early)
- Hedrick, The Pears of New York (1921) — listed as Eliot Early
View original book sources (3)
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Eliot's Early.
A new early pear, raised by Charles Eliot, of Windsor, Ontario. Specimens received from James Dougall, who writes that the tree is very hardy, a strong, vigorous grower, an early bearer, very productive, and ripens a week or more before the Madeline.
Fruit small pyriform, regular; skin pale greenish yellow, brownish red when exposed to the sun; stalk long, slender, curved; cavity small, russeted; calyx closed or partially open; basin small, slightly plaited; flesh whitish, half fine, juicy, melting, sweet, slight perfume; good to very good. July.
— J.L. Budd & N.E. Hansen, American Horticultural Manual, Part II: Systematic Pomology (1914)Eliot (Eliot's Early). — Medium in size, pyriform; bears in clusters of three to six; color yellowish green with red striping. Flesh juicy, vinous, very good. Season, early. A new variety, doing well east of the lakes.
— U.P. Hedrick, The Pears of New York (1921)Eliot Early. 1. Am. Pom. Soc. Rpt. 52. 1871. 2. Rural N. Y. 51:602, figs. 242, 243. 1892.
Said to have been raised by Judge Charles Eliot of Windsor, Ontario, Canada, from a cross between Madeleine and Doyenné d'Été. Tree strong, vigorous, hardy, an early and productive bearer. Fruit small, pyriform, pale greenish-yellow, brownish-red next the sun; stem long, slender, curved; cavity small, russeted; calyx closed or partially open; base small; flesh whitish, half-fine, juicy, melting, sweet, slightly perfumed; good to very good; July.