Eyewood
PearEyewood
Origin & History: Raised from seed by Thomas Andrew Knight about 1822 at Downton, Wiltshire, England. The Herefordshire Pomona noted that in the season of 1831—described as an indifferent year for standards—it approached the quality of Gansel's Bergamot, remarking "it is doubtful whether it would be exceeded by Gansel's Bergamot in a better season."
Tree: Vigorous, of very free growth, and hardy. Bears well even in indifferent seasons (Herefordshire Pomona).
Fruit:
Size: Medium, described by the Herefordshire Pomona as very similar in size to an Autumn Bergamot.
Form: The Herefordshire Pomona describes the shape as very similar to an Autumn Bergamot. Downing describes it as oblate or flattened. Hedrick describes it as globular.
Skin: Very thick (Hedrick). All sources agree the fruit is much covered with russet. Hedrick gives the most detailed account: greenish-yellow ground color, tinged with brown next the sun, much covered with pale brown-russet and large dots. The Herefordshire Pomona characterizes the overall color as a deep cinnamon-russet.
Flesh: Yellowish-white (Herefordshire Pomona) to yellowish (Hedrick). Very tender and melting, buttery, and juicy. All three sources agree on the buttery, melting quality.
Flavor: Rich and excellent (Downing). Very highly flavoured (Herefordshire Pomona). Hedrick describes the flavor as sweet, with a sprightly, vinous character and fine aroma, rating it first quality, but noting it sometimes has too little perfume.
Season: October (Hedrick), or extending into November (Herefordshire Pomona).
Book Sources
Described in 3 period pomological works
View original book sources (3)
— Woolhope Naturalists Field Club, The Herefordshire Pomona (1885)Eyewood Pear.
In shape and size, very similar to an Autumn Bergamot; but of a deeper cinnamon-russet colour. Flesh yellowish white, melting, buttery, juicy, and very highly flavoured. It is doubtful whether it would be exceeded by Gansel's Bergamot in a better season for Standards than that of 1831, when the above description was made. Season, October or November.
Note.—The tree is of very free growth, hardy, and bears well in indifferent seasons.
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Eyewood.
A seedling of Mr. Knight's. Tree vigorous and hardy.
Fruit of medium size, oblate or flattened. Skin much covered with russet. Flesh buttery, rich, and excellent.
— U.P. Hedrick, The Pears of New York (1921)Eyewood.
- Leroy Dict. Pom. 2:149, fig. 1869.
- Downing Fr. Trees Am. 759. 1869.
Raised from seed by T. A. Knight about 1822 at Downton, Wiltshire, Eng. Fruit medium, globular; skin very thick, greenish-yellow, tinged with brown next the sun, much covered with pale brown-russet and large dots; flesh yellowish, very tender and melting, juicy, sweet, with a sprightly, vinous flavor and fine aroma; first, but sometimes has too little perfume; Oct.