Foote's Seckel
Pear
Foote's Seckel
Origin / History
Raised by Asahel Foote, of Williamstown, Mass., from seed of the Seckel. Downing (1900) calls it "a very promising new variety." Listed in Am. Pom. Soc. Rpt., p. 99, 1869, and in Downing's Fr. Trees Am., p. 765, 1869 (cited by Hedrick, 1921). Thomas (1903) lists it under Mass.
Tree
Healthy, vigorous, more spreading than Seckel. Young wood dark rich brown.
Fruit
Size: Small.
Form: Oblate, obtuse pyriform; Thomas gives obovate.
Stem: Short, fleshy.
Cavity: Small.
Calyx: Open.
Basin: Medium, rather deep.
Skin: Yellow, shaded or tinged with brownish crimson on the side toward the sun, nearly covered with rich crimson russet; Thomas gives yellow and brownish-red, and russet.
Dots: Not described in source.
Flesh and flavor: Whitish, fine, juicy, melting, sugary, slightly vinous; a little more vinous than Seckel. Very good.
Core and seeds: Not described in source.
Season
September; a week or two later than Seckel.
Uses
Not described in source.
Subtypes / Variants
Not described in source.
Other
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.
— 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.
— 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.