FONDANTE D'AUTOMNE
Pear
Fondante d'Automne
Origin/History
A Flemish pear. Thomas (1903) lists Fondante d'Automne as a synonym under Belle Lucrative, reflecting the variety's wide currency under multiple names across pomological literature.
Tree
Moderately vigorous, healthy, and productive. Young shoots yellowish brown. Quality of fruit is highly dependent on growing conditions: when grown in perfection, it ranks among the very best pears, but if trees are overloaded, soil is unsuited, or the season is dull, cloudy, and rainy, the fruit is only second-rate.
Fruit
Size: Medium.
Form: Variable — ranging from obovate obtuse pyriform to globular.
Stem: Little more than an inch long, stout, often fleshy, obliquely inserted.
Cavity: Slight, irregular.
Calyx: Very short, open, with few divisions.
Basin: Moderate depth.
Skin: Pale yellowish green, slightly russeted.
Flesh/Flavor: Juicy, melting, sugary, rich, and delicious. Rated very good to best.
Core/Seeds: Not described in source.
Season
Last of September.
Uses
Not described in source.
Subtypes/Variants
Not described in source.
Book Sources
Described in 2 period pomological works
Nursery Catalog Sources
Found in 8 catalogs (1864–1917) from England, Oregon
- St. Helena Nursery , Howell's Prairie, Marion County , Oregon — 1864
- Woodburn Nurseries , Woodburn, Marion Co. , Oregon — 1894
- Kelway & Son , Langport, Somerset , England — 1897
- George Bunyard & Co. , Royal Nurseries, Maidstone, Kent , England — 1900
- James Veitch & Sons , Ltd., Royal Exotic Nursery, Chelsea, London (also Coombe Wood, Langley, and Feltham) , England — 1911
- Thomas Rivers & Son , Sawbridgeworth, Hertfordshire , England — 1913
- George Bunyard & Co. , Royal Nurseries, Maidstone, Kent , England — 1914
- George Bunyard & Co. , Royal Nurseries, Maidstone, Kent , England — 1917
View original book sources (2)
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)FONDANTE D'AUTOMNE.
Belle Lucrative. Arbre Superbe. Seigneur d'Esperin. Lucrate. Bergamotte Fiévée. Fondante de Maubeuge. Gresillier. Autumn Melting. Du Seigneur. Esperin's Herrenbirne. Beurre Lucrative. Bergamotte Lucrative. Seigneur.
This Flemish Pear is, when grown in perfection, one of the very best; but if the trees are overloaded, soil unsuited, or a dull, cloudy, rainy season, it is only second-rate. The tree is moderately vigorous, healthy and productive. Young shoots yellowish brown.
Fruit medium size, variable in form, from obovate obtuse pyriform to globular. Pale yellowish green, slightly russeted. Stalk little more than an inch long, stout, often fleshy, obliquely inserted in a slight, irregular cavity. Calyx very short, open, with few divisions, set in a basin of moderate depth. Flesh juicy, melting, sugary, rich, and delicious. Very good to best. Last of September.
— John J. Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)Fondante d'Automne. See Belle Lucrative.