Garnons
PearGarnons Pear
Origin/History
Cited by Kenrick in American Orchardist (1841). The Herefordshire Pomona describes observations of fruit from the original seedling tree over five consecutive years, finding its merits consistently above mediocrity across all seasons.
Tree
Grows well and bears very freely, and at an early age (Herefordshire Pomona).
Fruit
Size: Large; in size it resembles a Winter Bon Chrétien (Herefordshire Pomona).
Form: Somewhat irregular, oblong (Hedrick); increasing beyond the middle and from thence diminishing towards the eye (Herefordshire Pomona).
Stem: Not described in source.
Cavity: Not described in source.
Calyx: The eye is set in a shallow depression or nearly level (Herefordshire Pomona).
Basin: Not described in source.
Skin: The two sources are in partial agreement: Hedrick describes the skin as greenish-yellow; the Herefordshire Pomona notes that the skin becomes yellowish when grown upon a wall, but remains long green if grown upon a standard.
Flesh/Flavor: Juicy, melting, and rich (Herefordshire Pomona); buttery and excellent (Hedrick). The Herefordshire Pomona rates it "a very excellent pear" and above mediocrity in all seasons; Hedrick grades it second quality.
Core/Seeds: Not described in source.
Season
January (both sources agree).
Uses
Grown on both wall and standard; the wall produces better color development in the skin (Herefordshire Pomona).
Subtypes/Variants
Not described in source.
Other
Not described in source.
Book Sources
Described in 2 period pomological works
View original book sources (2)
— Woolhope Naturalists Field Club, The Herefordshire Pomona (1885)Garnon's Pear.
Fruit large, somewhat irregular, increasing beyond the middle, and from thence diminishing towards the eye, which is in a shallow depression or nearly level. The skin yellowish upon a wall, but remains long green if grown upon a standard. In size it resembles a Winter Bon Chrétien, but the quality of the latter is not by any means to be compared with it. Flesh juicy, melting and rich. A very excellent pear. Season, January.
Remarks.—I have seen this Pear, the produce of the original seedling tree, in each of the last five years; and its merits have appeared to me to be in all seasons above mediocrity. The trees grow well and bear very freely, and at an early age.
— U.P. Hedrick, The Pears of New York (1921)Garnons.
- Kenrick Am. Orch. 161. 1841.
Fruit large, oblong, greenish-yellow, flesh buttery and excellent; second; Jan.