Eliot's Early
PearEliot's Early
Origin/History
Eliot's Early is said to have been raised by Judge Charles Eliot of Windsor, Ontario, Canada, from a cross between Madeleine and Doyenné d'Été. Downing, whose information came from James Dougall, describes the raiser simply as Charles Eliot without the judicial title. The variety appeared in the American Pomological Society Report as early as 1871, and was illustrated in Rural New York in 1892 (vol. 51, p. 602, figs. 242, 243). Downing notes that it ripens a week or more before the Madeleine. Budd & Hansen describe it as a new variety doing well east of the lakes.
Tree
The tree is very hardy, strong, and vigorous in growth, an early bearer, and very productive.
Fruit
Size and Form: Downing and Hedrick describe the fruit as small and pyriform, regular in outline. Budd & Hansen describe it as medium in size, pyriform — a conflict with the other two sources.
Bearing habit: Budd & Hansen note that the fruit bears in clusters of three to six (not mentioned by the other sources).
Stem: Long, slender, and curved.
Cavity: Small, russeted.
Calyx: Closed or partially open.
Basin: Small, slightly plaited (Downing). Hedrick uses "base small" in the corresponding position.
Skin: Pale greenish yellow, becoming brownish red where exposed to the sun (Downing, Hedrick). Budd & Hansen describe the color as yellowish green with red striping.
Flesh and Flavor: Whitish, half-fine, juicy, melting, sweet, and slightly perfumed; rated good to very good (Downing, Hedrick). Budd & Hansen describe the flesh as juicy and vinous, rated very good — the "vinous" character is not mentioned by the other sources.
Core/Seeds: Not described in source.
Season
Early; July.
Uses
Not described in source.
Subtypes/Variants
Not described in source.
Other
The variety is noted by Budd & Hansen as performing well east of the Great Lakes.
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.
— 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.
— 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.