Green Chisel
PearOrigin/History
The origin of this ancient early summer pear is unknown. Under the name Guenette, it was described by Merlet in articles written in 1675 and 1690, and appears to have been well known in English and French gardens. It was mentioned by Philip Miller in 1734 as being still "in prime" in July in England, and was described by Mawe and Abercrombie in 1778. Hogg deems "Chisel" to be a corruption of the French name Choiseul (Hedrick). Downing calls it simply "an old English Pear." Thomas notes that "Green Chisel" is also an erroneous name sometimes applied to the Madeleine, in addition to being the name of this distinct small summer pear.
Tree
The tree is very productive, erect, fruiting in clusters (Downing).
Fruit
Size: Small (Downing, Elliott). Hedrick describes it as small or very small.
Form: Roundish ovate (Downing). Globular-turbinate, growing in clusters (Hedrick). Roundish (Elliott).
Skin: Greenish (Downing). Green or rarely yellowish-green, with sometimes a brownish tinge next the sun, sprinkled with small russet dots (Hedrick). Green, with brown cheek (Elliott).
Flesh: White, melting, juicy, sprightly (Downing). White, slightly green, fine, semi-breaking, sweet, slightly gritty around centre; juice ample in amount, sugary, acid, slightly aromatic (Hedrick).
Flavor: Downing rates it "Good" and describes the flesh as sprightly. Hedrick rates it "second" quality, noting the flavor as sugary, acid, and slightly aromatic. Elliott describes it as sweet but poor flavor. Thomas likewise calls it "a sweet but poor flavor."
Stem: Not described in source.
Cavity: Not described in source.
Calyx: Not described in source.
Basin: Not described in source.
Core/Seeds: Not described in source.
Season
Middle August (Downing). August (Elliott, Hedrick).
Uses
Not described in source.
Subtypes/Variants
Not described in source.
Book Sources
Described in 4 period pomological works
Nursery Catalog Sources
Found in 5 catalogs (1900–1925) from Illinois, Washington
- Central Experimental Farm , Dominion Department of Agriculture, Agassiz, British Columbia (under test; Bulletin No. 3, Second Series) — 1900
- Benjamin Buckman (personal inventory) , Farmingdale , Illinois — 1901
- Vineland Nurseries Company , Clarkston , Washington — 1912 — listed as Sugar
- Benjamin Buckman (personal inventory) , Farmingdale , Illinois — 1913
- Columbia & Okanogan Nursery Co. , Wenatchee , Washington — 1925 — listed as Sugar
View original book sources (4)
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Green Chisel.
Madeleine Vert. Guenette. Hativeau. Petit muscat batard muscade.
An old English Pear. The tree is very productive, erect, fruiting in clusters.
Fruit small, roundish ovate, greenish. Flesh white, melting, juicy, sprightly. Good. Middle August.
— U.P. Hedrick, The Pears of New York (1921)Green Chisel,
- Langley Pomona 132. 1729.
- Hogg Fruit Man. 588. 1884. Guenette.
- Leroy Diet. Pom. 2:261, fig. 1869.
The origin of this ancient early summer variety is unknown, but it was described by Mawe and Abercrombie in 1778, and was also mentioned by Philip Miller in 1734 as being still "in prime" in July in England. Under the name of Guenette it was described by Merlet in articles written in 1675, and 1690 and appears to have been well known in English and French gardens. Hogg deems Chisel to be a corruption of the French name Choiseul.
Fruit small or very small, growing in clusters, globular-turbinate, green or rarely yellowish-green, with sometimes a brownish tinge next the sun, sprinkled with small russet dots; flesh white, slightly green, fine, semi-breaking, sweet, slightly gritty around centre; juice ample in amount, sugary, acid, slightly aromatic; second; Aug.
— F.R. Elliott, The Western Fruit Book (1865)Green Chisel. Sugar. Foreign. Small, roundish, green, with brown cheek. August.
— John J. Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)Green Chisel. An erroneous name for Madeleine; also the name of a small, roundish, green summer pear, of a sweet but poor flavor.