French Jargonelle
Pear
USDA Pomological Watercolor Collection
French Jargonelle
Origin / History
Listed by Coxe (1817) as No. 6, "Bellissime d'Ete', or Supreme." Downing (1900) says Mr. Thompson calls it, "by way of distinction, the French Jargonelle, because it is most commonly received under that name from France." Downing finds it a higher colored and handsomer fruit than the English Jargonelle, though "much inferior in quality."
Tree
Tree of very strong, upright growth (Downing).
Fruit
Size: Medium.
Form: Obovate.
Stem: Not described in source.
Cavity: Not described in source.
Calyx: Not described in source.
Basin: Not described in source.
Skin: Light green, becoming lemon color, with a very rich, deep red cheek. Exterior fair and tempting.
Dots: Not described in source.
Flesh and flavor: Flesh white, coarse, breaking, sweet. Often mealy and overripe while the exterior remains fair. Soon rots at the core.
Core and seeds: Not described in source.
Season
Ripens the last of July and first of August. Lasts only a day or two in perfection.
Uses
Not described in source.
Subtypes / Variants
Not described in source.
Other
Not described in source.
Book Sources
Described in 3 period pomological works
- Coxe, A View of the Cultivation of Fruit Trees (1817) — listed as Bellissime d'Ete', or Supreme
- Downing, Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)
- Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)
Nursery Catalog Sources
Found in 3 catalogs (1845–1849) from Massachusetts
- Winship's Nursery (Brighton Nurseries , operated by the Winship family), Brighton (Boston) , Massachusetts — 1845
- Hovey & Co. , Cambridge , Massachusetts — 1849
- Hovey & Co. , Cambridge , Massachusetts — 1849 — listed as Vermilion d'Ete
View original book sources (3)
— William Coxe, A View of the Cultivation of Fruit Trees (1817)No. 6. Bellissime d'Ete', or Supreme.
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)French Jargonelle.
Bellissime d'Été. Saint Laurent. Bellissime Supreme. Muscadet d'Été. Bellissime Jargonelle. Bassin. Vermilion d'Été. Just. Red Muscadel. Belle Cornelie. Sabine d'Été. Butler's Harvest. Summer Beauty. Cuisse Madame. English Red Cheek. Summer Jargonelle. Red Cheek. Cuisse Dame d'Été. Udal. Fusée d'Été. Laurentienne.
This, which Mr. Thompson calls, by way of distinction, the French Jargonelle, because it is most commonly received under that name from France, is a higher colored and handsomer fruit than the English Jargonelle, though much inferior in quality, and, in fact, lasts only a day or two in perfection, and is often mealy and overripe, while the exterior is fair and tempting. The tree is of very strong, upright growth.
Fruit of medium size, obovate in form, light green, becoming lemon color, with a very rich, deep red cheek. Flesh white, coarse, breaking, sweet, and soon rots at the core. Ripens the last of July and first of August.
— John J. Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)Bellissime d'Eté. See French Jargonelle. Bellissime Jargonelle. See French Jargonelle.