Foote's Seckel
Pear
Foote's Seckel
Origin/History
Raised from seed of the Seckel by Asahel Foote, of Williamstown, Massachusetts. First documented in the American Pomological Society Report (1869) and in Downing's Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1869). Described at introduction as a very promising new variety, ripening a week or two later than its Seckel parent and a little more vinous in character.
Tree
Healthy and vigorous, with a more spreading habit than the Seckel. Young wood dark rich brown.
Fruit
Size: Small.
Form: Oblate, obtuse-pyriform (Downing; Hedrick). Thomas describes the form as obovate — a conflicting characterization from the same period.
Stem: Short and fleshy (Downing).
Cavity: Small (Downing).
Calyx: Open (Downing).
Basin: Medium, rather deep (Downing).
Skin: Yellow, shaded with brownish crimson on the sun-exposed side, nearly covered with rich crimson russet (Downing). Hedrick describes the color as yellow tinged with brownish-crimson on the side of the sun, without noting the russet coverage. Thomas notes yellow with brownish-red and russet.
Flesh/Flavor: Whitish, fine, juicy, melting, sugary, and slightly vinous. Rated very good. Described as a little more vinous than the Seckel parent (Downing).
Core/Seeds: Not described in source.
Season
September. Ripens a week or two later than the Seckel (Downing).
Uses
Not described in source.
Subtypes/Variants
Not described in source.
Book Sources
Described in 3 period pomological works
View original book sources (3)
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Foote's Seckel.
Raised by Asahel Foote, of Williamstown, Mass., from seed of the Seckel. A very promising new variety, ripening a week or two later than its parent, and a little more vinous. Tree healthy, vigorous, more spreading than Seckel. Young wood dark rich brown.
Fruit small, oblate obtuse pyriform, yellow, shaded with brownish crimson in the sun, nearly covered with rich crimson russet. Stalk short, fleshy.
[Illustration: Foote's Seckel.]
Cavity small. Calyx open. Basin medium, rather deep. Flesh whitish, fine, juicy, melting, sugary, slightly vinous. Very good. September.
— U.P. Hedrick, The Pears of New York (1921)Foote Seckel.
- Am. Pom. Soc. Rpt. 99. 1869.
- Downing Fr. Trees Am. 765. 1869.
Raised from seed of Seckel by Asahel Foote, Williamstown, Mass. Fruit small, oblate, obtuse-pyriform, yellow tinged with brownish-crimson on the side of the sun; flesh whitish, fine, juicy, melting, sugary, slightly vinous; very good; Sept.
— John J. Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)Foote's Seckel. Small, obovate, yellow and brownish-red, and russet; juicy, melting, vinous; very good. September. Mass.