Flemish Beauty
Pear
USDA Pomological Watercolor Collection
Flemish Beauty
Origin / History
Flemish Beauty is a pear of Belgium, from Flanders. Elliott calls it simply "Foreign." Downing calls it "An old Pear, supposed of Belgian origin, although foreign authors conflict in regard thereto."
The Herefordshire Pomona says it was discovered by Van Mons in the village of Deftinge, in Flanders, in 1810, and that he brought it into notice by distributing grafts among his friends. Bunyard says it was found by M. Chatillon, of Alost, Belgium, in a wood, and introduced to notice by Van Mons about 1818. Hedrick says the parent tree is said to have been a wilding found in a wood near Alost, East Flanders, about the beginning of the nineteenth century. In his account it was cultivated under the Flemish name of Bosc Peer, or Pear of the Woods. Van Mons took up its propagation about 1810 and introduced it a few years later as Fondante des Bois, the name under which it was known in Europe for many years. Hedrick adds that its rapid distribution was promoted by Van Mons's numerous grafts to friends and correspondents. He takes its over sixty synonyms as "some testimony to its popularity and excellence."
The variety was figured in the Pomological Magazine in 1830. Lindley, writing in 1831, described it under the name Flemish Beauty, and it then appeared to be in pretty general cultivation in England (Hedrick).
Hovey (1852) wrote that under the name of the Barnard pear it had been known in Dorchester, Massachusetts, "for nearly twenty years" before he knew of its introduction under the name Flemish Beauty. From this Hedrick infers that it reached America before 1830, possibly through someone named Barnard. Hovey held it identical with Van Mons's celebrated Beurré Spence, since it answered "in every particular" to Van Mons's description and he had received it under that name from English and French collections. Downing calls that identification erroneous, and Elliott attaches the name Beurré Spence to it only "of some."
Van Mons was asked which "of all his new pears he would give the preference." He "immediately replied, 'the Beurré Spence,'" and added, "This fruit, to my taste, is inestimable, and has no competitor." Hovey gave the same answer for Flemish Beauty, "for, if large size, beautiful appearance, and delicious flavor, constitute a fine fruit, the former variety possesses them all in a remarkable degree."
At the first meeting of the American Pomological Society, in 1848, Flemish Beauty was placed on the list of pears recommended for general cultivation, a place it has since retained (Hedrick). Elliott judged it "deserving of far more general cultivation than it has yet received." The Herefordshire Pomona calls it "This excellent pear." Budd and Hansen record it as "Starred across the continent."
Hedrick reports that it was at one time a leading commercial variety in the pear regions of eastern America. It was afterward supplanted by other varieties "because the toll of blighted trees is too great, and the fruits are too often disfigured by the scab fungus." In his judgment "The fruits are nearly perfect if scab-free and properly matured."
Tree
Vigorous and strong-growing; very luxuriant (Downing); rapid-growing (Hedrick's Cyclopedia). Hedrick gives the tree as medium in size. Habit spreading. Hedrick gives drooping branches, while Hovey says that in old trees it is sometimes slightly drooping. Young shoots upright (Elliott, Downing), or diverging and ascending (Thomas).
Wood and young shoots reddish brown to dark brown. They are given as clear reddish brown with rather numerous whitish specks (Hovey), reddish olive brown (Downing), or dark brown (Elliott, Thomas). Hovey describes the annual shoots as long, rather slender, and short-jointed. Hedrick gives the trunk smooth. His branches are thick, shaggy, bright reddish-brown, with dull gray scarf-skin and large lenticels. His branchlets are thick, short, with short internodes, reddish-brown, smooth, glabrous, with many large, raised lenticels.
Leaf-buds pointed and prominent, with rather stout shoulders (Hovey). Hedrick calls them large, long, obtuse, pointed, nearly free, with prominent leaf-scars.
Leaves medium size (Hovey); Hedrick gives 3½ in. long and 1⅝ in. wide, and his Cyclopedia prints 1¾ in. wide. Oval (Hedrick) or ovate (Hovey), taper-pointed. Smooth, deep glossy green, thick, leathery. Margin finely serrate (Hedrick), or slightly and obtusely serrated (Hovey). The younger leaves are flat, the older somewhat folded and slightly recurved on the midrib (Hovey). Petioles long, rather slender to usually slender, 1½ to 2 in. Hedrick gives 2 in., and his Cyclopedia prints ¾ in.
Flower-buds medium size (Hovey), or very large, long, conical or pointed, very plump, free (Hedrick). Flowers medium size, with obovate, cupped petals (Hovey). Hedrick gives them 1⅛ in. across (his Cyclopedia 1¼ in.), in dense clusters of usually 7 buds, on slender pedicels 1¼ in. long, slightly pubescent and light green.
Productive, fruitful, of great fertility. Hedrick credits it with "unusual fruitfulness," and Hovey reports "the most abundant crops of large fruit." Downing says it bears early and abundantly. Hovey says that from its vigorous growth it does not come into bearing very early, about the fifth or sixth year, and Hedrick likewise says the trees do not come into bearing early. At Agassiz, British Columbia, a tree planted in the spring of 1890 proved "a strong grower, but not a free bearer."
Hardy. Hedrick credits it with "as great hardihood to cold as those of any other variety." Hedrick names blight and scab as its chief troubles, and says the scab-infected foliage not infrequently drops before the crop matures.
On the quince, Hovey says it "does not succeed very well," and Hedrick calls it unsuitable for dwarfing because it overgrows the quince stock. Elliott says it "succeeds most admirably on the Quince." The Herefordshire Pomona advises growing it as a pyramid on the quince or pear stock. Bunyard calls it "A hardy and vigorous variety making a good standard."
Elliott reports that on the rich soils of Illinois he saw it "far surpass even the most highly nursed specimens of Boston amateur gardens." The Stark catalog (1910) states: "In the North and East it is well adapted for Mexico and the Northwest - bears good crop of perfect fruit."
Fruit
Size: Large, uniform in size and shape (Hedrick). Hovey gives about 3½ in. long and 3 in. in diameter, often measuring 12 in. in circumference. Bunyard gives 3½ by 3½ in. Hedrick gives nearly 2½ in. long and 2⅜ in. wide; his Cyclopedia prints 2¼ in. wide.
Form: Obovate, obtuse, slightly pyriform. Hovey and Elliott call it oblong-obovate. Hovey places the greatest width about one third from the crown, tapering to an obtuse point at the stem. Thomas calls it very obtuse, often obscurely tapering to the crown. Hedrick gives it roundish or obovate-obtuse-pyriform, symmetrical, with nearly equal sides. Bunyard calls it oval, a little flattened at each end, and a little uneven, and the George Bunyard catalog (1914) also gives a "flattened form."
Stem: One to one and a half inches long; Hedrick's Cyclopedia prints 1¾ in. Hovey and Bunyard call it medium, while Downing calls it rather short. Thick, moderately stout to quite stout, curved. Thomas alone calls it rather slender.
Cavity: Narrow to very narrow, round, rather deep to deep, regular. Downing calls it "peculiarly narrow," with the stalk "pretty deeply planted." Thomas describes it as often acuminate, with the rim obtusely rounded. Hedrick gives it acute, shallow to deep, slightly russeted, a little furrowed; his Cyclopedia reads "shallow yet much deeper than in the average pear." Hovey calls it small and rather highest on one side, and Bunyard calls it slight.
Calyx: Open, short. Hovey describes the eye as small and slightly sunk. Bunyard gives it "open or closed." Hovey calls the segments short and pointed. Hedrick calls the lobes short, obtuse, and partly separated at the base, with the calyx-tube short, wide, and conical.
Basin: Small, round, shallow; smooth (Hovey). Hedrick calls it shallow, narrow, abrupt, symmetrical. Bunyard alone describes it as deep and irregular.
Skin: Thick and tough (Hedrick). Slightly rough, roughish, dull. Bunyard alone calls it smooth; Hovey calls it "fair."
Ground pale yellow, also dull yellow (Hovey) or clear yellow (Hedrick). Bunyard gives dull greenish yellow, and the George Bunyard catalog "pale greenish." Hovey adds that it is clouded with green.
Mostly covered with marblings and patches of light russet, becoming reddish brown at maturity on the sunny side. The Herefordshire Pomona says it is almost entirely covered with yellowish-brown russet on the shaded side and reddish brown on the side next the sun. Hovey describes it as "more or less traced with a rich deep russet." Thomas gives only "some" reddish-brown russet, and Bunyard gives it russeted around the eye.
The exposed cheek is rich reddish brown, overspread with a dotted and marbled red blush. That color is also recorded as "beautifully mottled with crimson in the sun" (Hovey), a dull red-brown flush (Bunyard), "tinged maroon" (Stark), and "red" with "a rosy tint" (George Bunyard catalog).
Beautiful. Hedrick writes that "a bright-cheeked Flemish Beauty is as handsome as any pear." In some seasons no spraying gives a clean cheek, and the pears are "blackened, scabbed, cracked and malformed" with the scab fungus (Hedrick). Thomas says the fruit "often cracks badly unless the trees are sprayed."
Dots: Numerous, small, russet, conspicuous (Hedrick). Hovey describes the skin as covered with russet specks.
Flesh and flavor: Flesh yellowish white; white by Hovey, Bunyard, and the George Bunyard catalog. Hedrick calls it firm, becoming melting and tender. Not very fine-grained, a little coarse, granular; Bunyard calls it "a little gritty." Buttery (Herefordshire Pomona, George Bunyard catalog). Juicy to very juicy, melting to very melting.
Flavor sweet, sugary, very saccharine, rich, with a slight musky flavor (Downing, Hedrick). Hovey calls it "rich, sugary and delicious, with a high aroma," and Hedrick calls it aromatic. Hedrick also describes the flavor as "nicely balanced between sweetness and sourness, very rich," with "a pleasing muskiness," or in his Cyclopedia "a distinct muskiness that all like." Thomas finds it "often with a very rich, sweet, and excellent flavor, but variable, and sometimes not high-flavored." Bunyard says only "pleasantly flavoured."
Quality "very good" (Downing, Budd and Hansen, Hedrick). Budd and Hansen also call it "highest in flavor," and Hedrick calls it "almost unapproachable in quality" when properly matured. The Herefordshire Pomona calls it "A first-rate pear," and the George Bunyard catalog "excellent and delicious."
Core and seeds: Core large (Hovey), or medium with oblong capsules (Elliott). Hedrick gives it closed, with clasping core-lines. Seeds small, pale brown (Hovey); oblong pyriform (Elliott); rather long, plump, acute (Hedrick).
Season
The recorded season runs from September into November. Most authors give the last of September or beginning of October, early fall. Bunyard gives the dessert season as October to November. Elliott says it "Does not keep long."
The fruit must be gathered before it is ripe, and Downing says it must be gathered sooner than most pears. It should be picked while it still adheres firmly, before it parts readily from the tree. Hedrick says to pick it as soon as it attains full size and ripen it under cover, and Thomas says it needs house-ripening. So handled it becomes, in Hovey's words, "extremely melting and luscious," and Downing calls it "always fine." Left to mature on the tree it loses most of its flavor and is inferior in quality; Downing says it "usually becomes soft, flavorless, and decays soon."
Uses
Dessert. The George Bunyard catalog adds "good for cooking." Hedrick writes that "Blight and scab condemn tree and fruit for commercial orchards, but a lover of good pears should combat these troubles for the sake of the choice fruits."
Subtypes / Variants
Parker (Minn. No. 1) is described by Alderman, Wilcox and Weir (1957). Its parentage is given as supposedly seed received from Manchuria. About 1950, pomologists at several eastern experiment stations reported that Parker in their collections appeared identical with Flemish Beauty. About the same year Flemish Beauty came into bearing for the first time in the Minnesota Fruit Breeding Farm variety test orchard, and the same similarity was noted. The name Parker was retained for the time being because it was well established in that region and because of the evidence of its independent origin.
In 1908 Edward C. Parker, a University of Minnesota graduate stationed in Manchuria, observed pears under cultivation well back from the coast at latitude 42 North. He was so impressed with their hardiness that he collected seed and clones and sent them to Samuel B. Green, then head of the Horticulture Department at the University. The clones dried out in shipment. Charles Haralson, superintendent of the recently established Fruit Breeding Farm, grew about 300 trees from the seed. All died from fireblight or winter injury except two, one of which bore only small, worthless fruits. The other first fruited in 1920, producing four or five large pears of excellent quality, and was designated Minn. No. 1, the first pear selection made at the Fruit Breeding Farm. No standard pears were then available for comparison, and the fruit staff had no reason to suspect that the original tree might be a propagated variety; no graft union was visible above ground. Propagating wood went to nurseries in 1924, and sale of trees under the trial number was authorized in 1926. The variety was formally introduced under the name Parker in 1934.
Parker tree hardy enough for favorable locations in southern Minnesota; upright, moderately spreading, not resistant to fire blight.
Parker fruit large, roundish pyriform, tapering gently toward the stem. Cavity very small. Basin shallow. Calyx nearly open. Stem medium. Skin smooth, medium-thick, clear medium-yellow, sometimes with a blush. Dots numerous, small, russet, distinct. Flesh tender, juicy, medium fine-grained, almost melting, with grit cells visible but softening at maturity, not objectionable. Flavor sweet, pleasant. Quality very good for eating fresh and for sauce. Core small. Seeds small, light brown, pointed. Ripens midseason.
Other
The George Bunyard catalog (1914) closes its entry with the words "Foreign form 1852."
Book Sources
Described in 10 period pomological works
- Bunyard, A Handbook of Hardy Fruits (1920)
- Downing, Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)
- Hedrick, The Pears of New York (1921)
- Alderman, Wilcox & Weir, Fruit Varieties Developed at the University of Minnesota Fruit Breeding Farm (1957) — listed as Parker
- Budd & Hansen, Systematic Pomology (1914)
- Elliott, The Western Fruit Book (1865)
- Hedrick, Cyclopedia of Hardy Fruits (1922)
- The Herefordshire Pomona (1876–1885)
- Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)
- Hovey, The Fruits of America (1852) — listed as THE FLEMISH BEAUTY PEAR
Nursery Catalog Sources
Found in 74 catalogs (1845–1955) from Alabama, Arkansas, California, England, Florida, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Missouri, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Washington
- Winship's Nursery (Brighton Nurseries , operated by the Winship family), Brighton (Boston) , Massachusetts — 1845
- Hovey & Co. , Cambridge , Massachusetts — 1849 — listed as Fondante de Bois
- Hovey & Co. , Cambridge , Massachusetts — 1849
- Azell Bowditch (Nursery / Fruit Catalog) , Boston , Massachusetts — 1850
- Joseph Breck & Co. , Boston , Massachusetts — 1855
- Hutchison Nursery , James Hutchison, Oakland , California — 1881
- Felix Gillet , Barren Hill Nursery, Nevada City , California — 1884
- Huntsville Wholesale Nurseries (Jessie S. Moss , Proprietor; W.F. Heikes, Manager), Huntsville , Alabama — 1886
- Felix Gillet , Barren Hill Nursery, Nevada City , California — 1888
- California Nursery Co. , Niles , California — 1889
- Felix Gillet , Barren Hill Nursery, Nevada City , California — 1889
- Felix Gillet , Barren Hill Nursery, Nevada City , California — 1890
- William H. Moon Co. , Morrisville, Bucks County , Pennsylvania — 1890
- Felix Gillet , Barren Hill Nursery, Nevada City , California — 1891
- Missouri Nursery Co. , Louisiana , Missouri — 1891
- Puyallup & Yakima Nurseries , Puyallup, Washington (Lock Box 191) and North Yakima , Washington — 1892
- Glen St. Mary Nurseries (G.L. Taber , Proprietor), Glen St. Mary , Florida — 1893
- Milwaukie-Canby Nurseries , Canby, OR (and Milwaukie, OR) — 1893
- Rogers Nursery Co. , Moorestown , New Jersey — 1893
- Sherwood Hall Nursery Co. , Timothy Hopkins (Menlo Park Nurseries), San Francisco / Menlo Park , California — 1893
- Multnomah Nurseries , Russellville , Oregon — 1894
- The Vineland Nurseries (Kelsey & Co. , Proprietors), St. Joseph, Missouri (Office: 13th and Atchison Sts., 2 Blocks East of the Citizens St. Car Line) — 1894
- Woodburn Nurseries , Woodburn, Marion Co. , Oregon — 1894
- Felix Gillet , Barren Hill Nursery, Nevada City , California — 1895
- The Lovett Company , Little Silver , New Jersey — 1896
- Felix Gillet , Barren Hill Nursery, Nevada City , California — 1897
- Arthur J. Collins & Sons , Moorestown , New Jersey — 1898
- J.V. Cotta (Cotta Nursery) , Carroll County , Illinois — 1898
- Reading Nursery , Jacob W. Manning, Proprietor, Reading , Massachusetts — 1898
- Stark Bros. Nurseries & Orchards Co. , Louisiana , Missouri — 1898
- Brown Brothers Co. , Continental Nurseries, Rochester, NY (also operated from Toronto, Canada) — 1899
- Alabama Nursery Co. , Huntsville , Alabama — 1900
- Central Experimental Farm , Dominion Department of Agriculture, Agassiz, British Columbia (under test; Bulletin No. 3, Second Series) — 1900
- The Dalles Nurseries , The Dalles , Oregon — 1901
- Washington Nursery Co. , Toppenish , Washington — 1901
- Brown Brothers Co. , Continental Nurseries, Rochester, NY (also operated from Toronto, Canada) — 1901
- Mountain Grove Nurseries (Tippin & Moore , Proprietors; Geo. T. Tippin, J. W. Tippin, J. C. Moore), Mountain Grove , Missouri — 1901
- S.L. Watkins , Grizzly Flats, El Dorado County , California — 1901
- Yarbrough Bros. , Stephens , Arkansas — 1901
- Forestville Nurseries , T.J. True, Forestville , California — 1902
- Pacific Nursery Company (W. O. Hudson & A. D. Hudson) , Tangent , Oregon — 1903
- Phoenix Nursery Company (W. E. Rossney , President; Sidney Tuttle, Vice-President), Bloomington , Illinois — 1904
- Stark Bros. Nurseries & Orchards Co. , Louisiana , Missouri — 1906
- J.B. Pilkington , Portland , Oregon — 1907
- Carlton Nursery Co. , Carlton , Oregon — 1909
- Milton Nursery Co. (A. Miller & Sons , Proprietors), Milton , Oregon — 1909
- Wm. J. Corse (successor to Robert Sinclair / Sinclair Nurseries) , Baltimore , Maryland — 1909
- Washington Nursery Company , Toppenish , Washington — 1909
- C.F. Lansing , Salem , Oregon — 1910
- Stark Bros. Nurseries & Orchards Co. , Louisiana , Missouri — 1910
- Galbraith Nursery Co. (DeWitt Hansen , Pres.-Mgr.), Fairbury , Nebraska — 1911
- Island Nurseries & Fruit Farm , Vashon (Vashon Island) , Washington — 1911
- Stark Bros. Nurseries & Orchards Co. , Louisiana , Missouri — 1911
- James Veitch & Sons , Ltd., Royal Exotic Nursery, Chelsea, London (also Coombe Wood, Langley, and Feltham) , England — 1911
- Ballygreen Nurseries , Hanford , Washington — 1912
- Pacific Nursery Company , Portland , Oregon — 1912
- Stark Bros. Nurseries & Orchards Co. , Louisiana , Missouri — 1912
- Vineland Nurseries Company , Clarkston , Washington — 1912
- Washington Nursery Company , Toppenish , Washington — 1912
- Samuel Fraser , Geneseo , New York — 1913
- Van Holderbeke Nursery Co. , Incorporated, Spokane, Washington (nurseries at Otis Orchards WA, Pasadena WA, Kennewick WA) — 1913
- Island Nurseries & Fruit Farm , Vashon (Vashon Island) , Washington — 1914
- Island Nurseries & Fruit Farm , Vashon (Vashon Island) , Washington — 1915
- Ornamental & Fruit Nursery Company , Wapato, County of Yakima , Washington — 1915
- Island Nurseries & Fruit Farm , Vashon (Vashon Island) , Washington — 1916
- Island Nurseries & Fruit Farm , Vashon (Vashon Island) , Washington — 1917
- Fancher Creek Nurseries , George C. Roeding, Fresno , California — 1918
- Oregon Nursery Co. , Orenco , Oregon — 1920
- Christopher Nurseries / John Stewart & Sons , Christopher , Washington — 1920
- Columbia & Okanogan Nursery Co. , Wenatchee , Washington — 1925
- Hudson's Wholesale Nurseries , Tangent , Oregon — 1926
- Milton Nursery Co. , Milton-Freewater , Oregon — 1947
- Carlton Nursery Co. , Forest Grove , Oregon — 1955
- North-Western Nurseries , Walla Walla , Washington
View original book sources (13)
— C.M. Hovey, The Fruits of America (1852)THE FLEMISH BEAUTY PEAR.
Flemish Beauty. Pomological Magazine, vol. iii. pl. 128. La Belle de Flandres, Bouche Nouvelle, Brilliant, Impératrice de France, Joséphine, } Hort. Soc. Cat. 3d Ed. 1842. Josephine, } Fondante du Bois, Bosc Sire, Bosch, Beurré Spence, Van Mons, in Revue des Revues, 1830, p. 180. Barnard, of some collections around Boston.
When Dr. Van Mons was asked, "if his own taste was called upon to decide the question, to which of all his new pears he would give the preference," he immediately replied, "the Beurré Spence," and added, "This fruit, to my taste, is inestimable, and has no competitor." Such would be our reply to the same question, substituting the name of Flemish Beauty for that of Beurré Spence ; for, if large size, beautiful appearance, and delicious flavor, constitute a fine fruit, the former variety possesses them all in a remarkable degree.
Under the name of the Barnard pear, the Flemish Beauty has been known in Dorchester, Mass., for nearly twenty years, before we have any knowledge of its introduction under the latter name, and the inference is, from its answering in every particular to Dr. Van Mons's description of the Beurré Spence, that it is identical with that celebrated variety. Under that name we have received it from English and French collections, and we have ventured to place it among the synonymes above.
There is one peculiarity of the Flemish Beauty which should always be borne in mind by cultivators. If the fruit remains upon the tree until fully ripe, it loses most of its flavor. It should always be gathered while it adheres firmly to the tree ; it then becomes extremely melting and luscious.
The Flemish Beauty, from its vigorous growth, does not come into bearing very early, — about the fifth or sixth year, — but, when it begins to bear, it produces the most abundant crops of large fruit, often measuring twelve inches in circumference. It does not succeed very well upon the quince.
Tree. — Vigorous, with a spreading habit ; in old trees sometimes slightly drooping.
Wood. — Clear reddish brown, with rather numerous whitish specks ; annual shoots long, rather slender, and short-jointed ; buds pointed, prominent, with rather stout shoulders : Flower-buds medium size.
Leaves. — Medium size, ovate, tapering to the point, smooth, deep glossy green, slightly and obtusely serrated, the younger ones flat, the older somewhat folded, and slightly recurved on the midrib ; petioles long, from one and a half to two inches, and rather slender.
Flowers. — Medium size ; petals, obovate, cupped.
Fruit. — Large, about three inches and a half long, and three inches in diameter : Form, oblong-obovate, largest about one third from the crown, and tapering to an obtuse point at the stem : Skin, fair, slightly rough, dull yellow, more or less traced with a rich deep russet, clouded with green, beautifully mottled with crimson in the sun, and covered with russet specks : Stem, medium length, about one inch long, moderately stout, curved, and inserted in a small cavity, rather highest on one side : Eye, small, open, and slightly sunk in a smooth, shallow basin ; segments of the calyx short, pointed : Flesh, white, little coarse, very melting and juicy : Flavor, rich, sugary and delicious, with a high aroma : Core, large : Seeds, small, pale brown.
Ripe the last of September and beginning of October.
— F.R. Elliott, The Western Fruit Book (1865)Flemish Beauty.
Belle de Flandres, Boesche Nouvelle, Bosch, Fondante du Bois, erroneously, Bosc Sire, Impératrice de France, Beurré Spence, of some, Poire Davy.
Foreign. This variety is deserving of far more general cultivation than it has yet received. It succeeds most admirably on the Quince, and on the rich soils of Illinois, we have seen it far surpass even the most highly nursed specimens of Boston amateur gardens. The tree is vigorous, with upright, dark brown shoots.
Fruit, large, oblong obtuse obovate; color, pale yellow, mostly covered with marblings and patches of light russet, and in sun, rich reddish brown: stem, one to one and a half inch long; cavity, narrow, deep; calyx, short, open; basin, round, small; core, medium, with oblong capsules; seeds, oblong pyriform; flesh, yellowish white, not very fine-grained, juicy, melting, sugary. Last of September. Does not keep long.
— Woolhope Naturalists Field Club, The Herefordshire Pomona (1885)
- FLEMISH BEAUTY.
[Syn: Belle de Flandres; Belle des Bois; Beurré des Bois; Beurré de Bourgogne; Beurré Davy; Beurré Davis; Beurré d'Effingham; Beurré d'Elberg; Beurré Foidard; Beurré St. Amour; Beurré Spence; Bosch Peer; Mouille Bouche Nouvelle; Brilliante; Fondante des Bois; Gagné à Heuze; Impératrice des Bois.]
This excellent pear was discovered by Van Mons, in the village of Deftinge, in Flanders, in 1810; and he brought it into notice by distributing grafts among his friends.
Description.—Fruit, large, and obovate. Skin, pale yellow, almost entirely covered with yellowish brown russet on the shaded side, and reddish brown on the side next the sun. Eye, open, set in a small shallow basin. Stalk, an inch long, inserted in a rather deep cavity. Flesh, yellowish white; buttery, melting, rich, and sugary.
A first-rate pear, ripe in September, but it requires to be gathered before it is ripe, or it will be inferior in quality. Best grown as a pyramid on the quince or pear stock.
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Flemish Beauty.
Belle de Flandres. Bosch Nouvelle. Bosch. Bosc Sire. Poire Davy. Imperatrice de France. Fondante du Bois. Boschpeer. Beurré Spence (erroneously). Brilliant. Brillante.
Bergamotte de Flandre. Beurre Foidard. Petersilie Peer. Beurre de Bourgogne. Beurre St. Amour. Belle des Bois. Beurre de Deftinge. Beurre Deftinghem. Beurre Davy. Poire de Persil. Molle Bouche Nouvelle.
An old Pear, supposed of Belgian origin, although foreign authors conflict in regard thereto. The tree is very luxuriant, hardy and bears early and abundantly; the young shoots upright, reddish olive brown.
The fruit requires to be gathered sooner than most pears, even before it parts readily from the tree. If it is then ripened in the house it is always fine, while, if allowed to mature on the tree, it usually becomes soft, flavorless, and decays soon.
Fruit large, obovate obtuse pyriform. Surface a little rough, the ground pale yellow, but mostly covered with marblings and patches of light russet, becoming reddish brown at maturity, on the sunny side. Stalk rather short, from an inch to an inch and a half long, and pretty deeply planted in a peculiarly narrow, round cavity. Calyx short, open, placed in a small round basin. Flesh yellowish white, not very fine-grained, but juicy, melting, very saccharine and rich, with a slightly musky flavor. Very good. Last of September.
— John J. Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)Flemish Beauty.* (Belle de Flandres.) Large, obovate, often obscurely tapering to the crown, very obtuse; surface slightly rough, with some reddish-brown russet on pale yellow ground; stalk an inch and a quarter long, rather slender; cavity round, deep, narrow, often acuminate, rim obtusely rounded; basin small, round; flesh juicy, melting, often with a very rich, sweet, and excellent flavor, but variable, and sometimes not high-flavored; needs house-ripening. Early fall. Shoots dark brown, diverging, and ascending; growth vigorous. The fruit often cracks badly unless the trees are sprayed. Belgium. Fig. 715.
— J.L. Budd & N.E. Hansen, American Horticultural Manual, Part II: Systematic Pomology (1914)Flemish Beauty.— Large, obovate, obtuse, slightly pyriform; skin a little rough, pale yellow, mostly covered with marblings and areas of light russet becoming reddish brown at maturity; stalk one to one and one-half inches long, quite stout, curved, and inserted in very narrow, deep, regular cavity. Flesh yellowish white, a little coarse but juicy, melting, sweet, rich, and highest in flavor, very good. Season, September. Starred across the continent. Belgium.
— E.A. Bunyard, A Handbook of Hardy Fruits (1920)FLEMISH BEAUTY. Her. Pom., I., 9. F. Belle des Bois, G. Holzfarbige Butterbirne. (Belle des Bois, Beurré Spence, Belle de Flandres, etc.) Dessert, October to November, large, 3½ by 3½, oval, a little flattened each end, a little uneven. Skin, smooth. Colour, dull greenish yellow with dull red brown flush, russeted around eye. Flesh, white, juicy, a little gritty, pleasantly flavoured. Eye, open or closed in a deep, irregular basin. Stem, medium, stout, in a slight cavity. Growth, strong, vigorous ; fertility great. Origin, found by M. Chatillon, of Alost, Belgium, in a wood, and introduced to notice by Van Mons about 1818. A hardy and vigorous variety making a good standard. It must be gathered before it parts readily from the tree.
— U.P. Hedrick, The Pears of New York (1921)FLEMISH BEAUTY
- Pom. Mag. 3:128, Pl. 1830. 2. Lindley Guide Orch. Gard. 373. 1831. 3. Downing Fr. Trees Am. 386, fig. 167. 1845. 4. Proc. Nat. Con. Fr. Gr. 51. 1848. 5. Hovey Fr. Am. 1:51, Pl. 1851. 6. Downing Fr. Trees Am. 760, fig. 1869. 7. Hogg Fruit Man. 578. 1884.
Belle de Flanders. 8. Kenrick Am. Orch. 172. 1832.
Fondante des Bois. 9. Ann. Pom. Belge 6:41, Pl. 1858. 10. Pom. France 1: No. 25, Pl. 25. 1863. 11. Mas Le Verger 3: Pt. 2, 55, fig. 124. 1866-73. 12. Leroy Dict. Pom. 2:166, fig. 1869. 13. Guide Prat. 58, 272. 1876. 14. Soc. Nat. Hort. France Pom. 412, fig. 1904.
Holzfarbige Butterbirne. 15. Mathieu Nom. Pom. 235. 1889. 16. Gaucher Pom. Prak. Obst. No. 49, Pl. 38. 1894.
At one time Flemish Beauty was a leading commercial variety in the pear regions of eastern America, but it has been supplanted by other varieties because the toll of blighted trees is too great, and the fruits are too often disfigured by the scab fungus. Perhaps the latter is the greater fault as in some seasons no applications of spray give the pears a clean cheek, and they are blackened, scabbed, cracked and malformed with this fungus. Not infrequently the scab-infected foliage drops before the crop matures. To offset these defects, the trees have to their credit great vigor, unusual fruitfulness and as great hardihood to cold as those of any other variety. The trees do not come in bearing early, and are not suitable for dwarfing as they overgrow the quince stock. The fruits are nearly perfect if scab-free and properly matured. To make sure of perfect maturity, the pears must be picked as soon as they attain full size and be permitted to ripen under cover. So treated, a bright-cheeked Flemish Beauty is as handsome as any pear, and is almost unapproachable in quality; the flavor is nicely balanced between sweetness and sourness, very rich, and has a pleasing muskiness. Blight and scab condemn tree and fruit for commercial orchards, but a lover of good pears should combat these troubles for the sake of the choice fruits.
The parent tree of this variety is said to have been a wilding found in a wood near Alost, East Flanders, Belgium, about the beginning of the nineteenth century. It was cultivated under the Flemish name of Bosc Peer or Pear of the Woods. About 1810, the propagation of the variety was taken up by Van Mons who introduced it a few years later under the name Fondante des Bois by which name it was known in Europe for many years. Lindley, writing in 1831, described this variety under the name Flemish Beauty, and it appeared then to be in pretty general cultivation in England. Styling it Barnard, Hovey wrote, in 1851, that Flemish Beauty "had been known in Dorchester, Massachusetts, for nearly twenty years," so that it is to be inferred that the variety was introduced to this country prior to 1830 and possibly by some one by the name of Barnard. The rapid distribution of this pear was promoted by Van Mons who gave numerous grafts of it to his friends and correspondents. The fact that the variety has over sixty synonyms may be taken as some testimony to its popularity and excellence. At the first meeting of the American Pomological Society held in 1848, Flemish Beauty was placed in the list of pears recommended for general cultivation, a place it has since retained.
Tree medium in size, vigorous, spreading, with drooping branches, hardy, productive; trunk smooth; branches thick, shaggy, bright reddish-brown, with dull gray scarf-skin, large lenticels; branchlets thick, short, with short internodes, reddish-brown, smooth, glabrous, with many large, raised lenticels.
Leaf-buds large, long, obtuse, pointed, nearly free; leaf-scars prominent. Leaves 3½ in. long, 1⅝ in. wide, oval, thick, leathery; apex taper-pointed; margin finely serrate; petiole 2 in. long, usually slender. Flower-buds very large, long, conical or pointed, very plump, free; flowers 1⅛ in. across, in dense clusters, usually 7 buds in a cluster; pedicels 1¼ in. long, slender, slightly pubescent, light green.
Fruit ripe in late September and early October; large, nearly 2½ in. long, 2⅜ in. wide, uniform in size and shape, roundish or obovate-obtuse-pyriform, symmetrical, with nearly equal sides; stem 1¼ in. long, thick; cavity acute, shallow to deep, narrow, slightly russeted, a little furrowed; calyx open; lobes partly separated at the base, short, obtuse; basin shallow, narrow, abrupt, symmetrical; skin thick, tough, roughish, dull; color clear yellow, overspread on the exposed cheek with a dotted and marbled red blush; dots numerous, russet, small, conspicuous; flesh yellowish-white, firm, becoming melting and tender, granular, juicy, sweet, aromatic, with a slight musky flavor; quality very good. Core closed, with clasping core-lines; calyx-tube short, wide, conical; seeds rather long, plump, acute.
— U.P. Hedrick, Cyclopedia of Hardy Fruits (1922)FLEMISH BEAUTY. Fig. 83. At one time Flemish Beauty was a leading commercial variety in the pear regions of eastern America, but it has been supplanted by other varieties because the toll of blighted trees is too great, and the fruits are too often disfigured by the scab fungus. Perhaps the latter is the greater fault, as in some seasons no applications of spray give the pears a clean cheek, and they are blackened, scabbed, cracked and malformed with fungus. Not infrequently the scab-infected foliage drops before the crop matures. To offset these defects, the trees are unusually fruitful, and as hardy as those of any other variety. The fruits are nearly perfect if scab-free, and properly matured. The pears must be picked as soon as they attain full size and be permitted to ripen under cover. So treated, a bright-cheeked Flemish Beauty is as handsome as any pear, and is almost unapproachable in quality, the flavor being nicely balanced between sweetness and sourness, very rich, and has a distinct muskiness that all like. Blight and scab condemn tree and fruit for commercial orchards, but a lover of pears should combat these troubles for the sake of the choice fruits. The parent tree of this variety was a wilding found in a wood near Alost, Belgium, about the beginning of the nineteenth century.
Tree medium in size, vigorous, spreading, often with drooping branches, rapid-growing, hardy, productive; trunk smooth; branches thick, shaggy, bright reddish-brown, with large lenticels. Leaves 3½ inches long, 1¾ inches wide, oval, thick, leathery; apex taper-pointed; margin finely serrate; petiole ¾ inches long, usually slender. Flowers 1¼ inches across, in dense clusters, usually 7 buds in a cluster.
Fruit ripe late September and early October; large, nearly 2½ inches long, 2¼ inches wide, uniform in size and shape, obovate-obtuse-pyriform, symmetrical, with nearly equal sides; stem 1¾ inches long, thick; cavity acute, shallow yet much deeper than in the average pear, narrow, slightly russeted, a little furrowed; calyx open; lobes partly separated at the base, short, obtuse; basin shallow, narrow, abrupt, symmetrical; skin thick, tough, roughish, dull; color clear yellow, overspread on the exposed cheek with a dotted and marbled, reddish blush; dots numerous, russet, small, conspicuous; flesh yellowish-white, firm, becoming melting and tender, granular, juicy, sweet, aromatic, with a slight musky flavor; quality very good; core closed, with clasping core-lines; calyx-tube short, wide, conical; seeds rather long, plump, acute.
— W.H. Alderman, A.N. Wilcox & T.S. Weir, Fruit Varieties Developed at the University of Minnesota Fruit Breeding Farm (1957)Parker. Minn. No. 1. Parentage, supposedly seed received from Manchuria. Introduced for trial 1924. Named 1934.
The history of Parker is recorded with more than usual detail because, about 1950, pomologists at several eastern experiment stations reported that this variety in their collections appeared to be identical with Flemish Beauty. About the same year the Flemish Beauty came into bearing for the first time in the Fruit Breeding Farm variety test orchard and the same similarity was noted. Notwithstanding this situation the name "Parker" is being retained for the time being because it is well established in this region, and because of the evidence of its independent origin.
In 1908, Mr. Edward C. Parker, a graduate of the University of Minnesota was stationed in Manchuria where he observed pears under cultivation well back from the coast at latitude 42 North. He was so impressed with the hardiness of these pears that he collected both seed and clones and sent them to Samuel B. Green, then head of the Horticulture Department at the University. The clones dried out in shipment but the seed was turned over to Charles Haralson, superintendent of the recently established Fruit Breeding Farm, and about 300 trees were grown. All died from fireblight or winter injury except two, one of which produced only small, worthless fruits. In 1920 the other survivor fruited for the first time and produced four or five large pears of excellent quality and the variety was designated Minn. No. 1, the first pear selection made at the Fruit Breeding Farm. No standard varieties of pears were available for comparison at that time and the fruit staff had no reason to suspect that the original tree might be a propagated variety. Certainly no evidence of a graft union was visible above ground. Propagating wood was distributed to nurseries in 1924 and in 1926 sale of trees under the trial number was authorized. In 1934 it was formally introduced under the present name.
The tree is hardy enough to be grown in favorable locations in southern Minnesota; form is upright, moderately spreading, not resistant to fire blight. The fruit is large, roundish pyriform tapering gently towards the stem; cavity very small; basin shallow; calyx nearly open; stem medium; skin smooth; medium-thick; color clear medium-yellow, sometimes with a blush; dots numerous, small, russet, distinct; flesh tender, juicy, medium fine-grained, almost melting, grit cells visible but soften at maturity, not objectionable; flavor sweet, pleasant; quality very good for eating fresh and for sauce; core small, seeds small, light brown, pointed; ripens midseason.
— Central Experimental Farm, Central Experimental Farm, Agassiz BC — Catalogue of Fruit Trees under Test (Bulletin No. 3, 1900) (1900)Planted Spring 1890. Tree a strong grower, but not a free bearer. Fruit large, obtuse, pyriform. Skin pale yellow, with patches of russet. Flesh yellowish white, a little coarse, juicy, sweet and rich. Season October.
— Stark Bros. Nurseries & Orchards Co., Stark Bros. Year Book (1910) (1910)Pale yellow, tinged maroon with light russet. Beautiful coloring, sweet, rich, and fruitful. The tree is vigorous and productive. In the North and East it is well adapted for Mexico and the Northwest - bears good crop of perfect fruit.
— George Bunyard & Co., George Bunyard Catalog of Fruit Trees (1914) (1914)Oct.; large; red; flattened form; pale greenish; and with a rosy tint; flesh white, very juicy; buttery and sweet; excellent and delicious, good for cooking. Productive. Foreign form 1852.