General Totleben
Pear
Origin & History
Raised by M. Fontaine of Ghelin (also spelled Gheling), Mons, Belgium, from a seed bed made in 1839. The tree first produced fruit in 1855. According to Downing, it was first described by M. Adolphe Papeleu in 1858. The Herefordshire Pomona notes that M. Fontaine named it in honour of Général Todtleben, the gallant defender of Sebastopol.
Tree
The Herefordshire Pomona describes the tree as moderately vigorous, making a good pyramid on the Quince, and bearing abundantly. Downing describes it as a vigorous grower, irregular, spreading, and productive, with young wood reddish yellow brown. The two sources disagree on vigor: the Pomona says "moderately vigorous" while Downing says "vigorous."
Fruit
Size: Very large according to the Herefordshire Pomona, which gives dimensions of four inches and a half long and nearly four inches wide. Hedrick says large or very large. Downing describes it as above medium or large. Thomas says rather large.
Form: Pyriform, ribbed round the apex (Herefordshire Pomona), and often more swollen on one side than the other — a characteristic noted by both the Pomona ("often more swollen on one side than the other") and Hedrick ("slightly contorted, one side often rather longer than the other"). Downing describes the form as obovate obtuse pyriform.
Skin: Yellow (Herefordshire Pomona, Hedrick) to greenish yellow (Downing, Thomas), covered with dots and patches of russet. Downing specifies the russet as "patched and netted" with "many russet brown dots." The Pomona describes it as "dots and patches of brown russet."
Stem: An inch long, set in a small narrow cavity (Herefordshire Pomona). Downing describes the stalk as rather stout, often curved.
Cavity: Small and narrow (Herefordshire Pomona). Small (Downing).
Calyx: The Herefordshire Pomona describes the eye as open, set in a wide furrowed basin. Downing describes the calyx as small, closed, with short segments — a direct conflict on whether the eye is open or closed.
Basin: Wide and furrowed (Herefordshire Pomona). Large, deep, and uneven (Downing).
Flesh & Flavor: The flesh color is described differently: the Herefordshire Pomona says "with a rosy tinge," Hedrick says "tinted with salmon-rose," while Downing says "whitish yellow." The Pomona describes the flesh as very melting and juicy, slightly gritty, with a rich, sugary and perfumed juice, calling it "a very delicious pear." Downing describes it as a little coarse, juicy, melting, sweet, slightly vinous, and aromatic, rating it "very good." Hedrick calls it melting, juicy, with a rich, sugary and perfumed juice, rated "excellent." Thomas says juicy and melting, very good.
Core & Seeds: Not described in sources.
Season
Sources disagree significantly on season. Downing says October and early November. Thomas says October. Hedrick says November to January. The Herefordshire Pomona says December to February. The variation likely reflects differences in climate and storage conditions between American and European contexts.
Uses
Not described in sources beyond the Herefordshire Pomona's general assessment as "a very delicious pear," implying dessert use.
Subtypes & Variants
Not described in sources.
Book Sources
Described in 4 period pomological works
Nursery Catalog Sources
Found in 6 catalogs (1897–1917) from England
- Kelway & Son , Langport, Somerset , England — 1897
- George Bunyard & Co. , Royal Nurseries, Maidstone, Kent , England — 1900
- James Veitch & Sons , Ltd., Royal Exotic Nursery, Chelsea, London (also Coombe Wood, Langley, and Feltham) , England — 1911
- Thomas Rivers & Son , Sawbridgeworth, Hertfordshire , England — 1913
- George Bunyard & Co. , Royal Nurseries, Maidstone, Kent , England — 1914
- George Bunyard & Co. , Royal Nurseries, Maidstone, Kent , England — 1917
View original book sources (4)
— Woolhope Naturalists Field Club, The Herefordshire Pomona (1885)GÉNÉRAL TODTLEBEN.
This excellent pear was raised from seed sown at Gheling in Belgium in 1839, and the tree first produced fruit in 1855. M. Fontaine named it in honour of Général Todtleben, the gallant defender of Sebastopol.
Description.—Fruit: very large, four inches and a half long, and nearly four wide; pyriform, ribbed round the apex, and often more swollen on one side than the other. Skin: yellow, covered with dots and patches of brown russet. Eye: open, set in a wide furrowed basin. Stalk: an inch long, set in a small narrow cavity. Flesh: with a rosy tinge, very melting and juicy, slightly gritty, with a rich, sugary and perfumed juice.
A very delicious pear, in season from December to February. The tree is moderately vigorous, makes a good pyramid on the Quince, and bears abundantly.
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)General Totleben.
General Todleben.
Raised by M. Fontaine, of Gheling. First fruited in 1855, and first described by M. Adolphe Papeleu, in 1858. Tree a vigorous grower, irregular, spreading, productive. Young wood reddish yellow brown.
Fruit above medium or large, obovate obtuse pyriform, greenish yellow, patched and netted with russet, and many russet brown dots. Stalk rather stout, often curved. Cavity small. Calyx small, closed, with short segments. Basin large, deep, uneven. Flesh whitish yellow, a little coarse, juicy, melting, sweet, slightly vinous, and aromatic. Very good. October and early November.
— U.P. Hedrick, The Pears of New York (1921)General Totleben.
i. Ann. Pom. Beige 8:57, fig. 1860. 2. Bunyard Handb. Hardy Fr. 177. 1920.
M. Fontaine de Ghelin, Mons, Bel., raised this variety from a seed bed made in 1839. Fruit large or very large, pyriform, slightly contorted, one side often rather longer than the other, yellow, covered with dots and patches of russet; flesh tinted with salmon-rose, melting, juicy, with a rich, sugary and perfumed juice; excellent; Nov. to Jan.
— John J. Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)General Totleben. Rather large, pyriform, greenish-yellow, netted with russet; juicy and melting; very good. October.