Fondante de Cuerne
PearFondante de Cuerne
Origin / History
Found at Cuerne, near Courtrai, by M. Reynaert Bernard. First described by Bivort in the Annales de Pomologie. Downing calls it a French variety, "said to be superior to, and ripening with, Beurré Giffard," and, not having fruited it, copies the Annales de Pomologie description. Bunyard says "the variety described by Hogg is evidently not the true variety."
Tree
Growth strong, making a large, spreading tree; fertility moderate. Leaf medium, upfolded, very regularly and finely serrate.
Fruit
Size: Medium (Annales description, copied by Downing) to medium to large (Bunyard); 2¾ by 3¼ (Bunyard).
Form: Oblong obovate pyriform (Annales description); round conical, even (Bunyard).
Stem: Rather short, varying (Annales description); long and stout, fleshy (Bunyard).
Cavity: Not described in source.
Calyx: Small, open (Annales description); eye open (Bunyard).
Basin: Rather deep, irregular (Bunyard).
Skin: Fairly smooth, thin (Bunyard). Pale greenish yellow (Annales description) to greenish yellow (Bunyard); traces of russet and russet brown in the sun (Annales description); thin brown russet round the eye (Bunyard).
Dots: Covered with russet dots (Bunyard).
Flesh and flavor: Flesh white (Annales description) or pale yellow (Bunyard); juicy, melting, buttery, sweet, agreeable (Annales description); melting, sweet and pleasantly flavored (Bunyard). Bunyard: "an excellent fruit in warm seasons."
Core and seeds: Not described in source.
Season
August to mid September: August in the Annales description copied by Downing, mid September (Bunyard).
Uses
Dessert (Bunyard).
Subtypes / Variants
Not described in source.
Other
Cited by Bunyard as Her. Pom., II., 42.
Book Sources
Described in 2 period pomological works
View original book sources (2)
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Fondante de Cuerne.
A French variety, said to be superior to, and ripening with, Beurré Giffard. We have not fruited it, and therefore copy description:—
Fruit medium, oblong obovate pyriform, pale greenish yellow, with traces of russet and russet brown in the sun. Stalk rather short, varying. Calyx small, open. Flesh white, juicy, melting, buttery, sweet, agreeable. August. (An. Pom.)
— E.A. Bunyard, A Handbook of Hardy Fruits (1920)FONDANTE DE CUERNE. Her. Pom., II., 42. Dessert, mid September, medium to large, 2¾ by 3¼, round conical, even. Skin, fairly smooth, thin. Colour, greenish yellow, thin brown russet round eye, covered with russet dots. Flesh, pale yellow, melting, sweet and pleasantly flavoured. Eye, open in a rather deep, irregular basin. Stem, long and stout, fleshy. Growth, strong, making a large, spreading tree; fertility moderate. Leaf, medium, upfolded, very regularly and finely serrate. Origin, found at Cuerne, near Courtrai, by M. Reynaert Bernard. First described by Bivort in the Annales de Pomologie. An excellent fruit in warm seasons. The variety described by Hogg is evidently not the true variety.