Green Mountain Boy
PearOrigin & History
An American native variety. First described by F.R. Elliott in The Western Fruit Book (1859 edition, cited by Hedrick as "Elliott Fr. Book 386. 1859"); subsequent accounts by Downing, Hedrick, and Thomas all derive from Elliott's description.
Tree
Not described in sources.
Fruit
Size: Medium. Elliott notes "medium or above," suggesting it can run slightly larger than typical for its class.
Form: Roundish obovate or obovate-pyriform. Elliott adds "sometimes angular pyriform." Hedrick describes it as "globular-obovate, or obovate-pyriform."
Stem: Varying (Elliott).
Cavity: Not described in sources.
Calyx: Open, with reflexed segments (Elliott).
Basin: Not described in sources.
Skin: Golden yellow, with numerous russety-brown specks. Elliott notes the ground color can range to "russety yellow." Thomas describes simply "rich, yellow."
Flesh & Flavor: Yellowish, melting, juicy, sweet. Quality rated "very good" by Elliott and Hedrick; rated "good" by Downing and Thomas.
Core & Seeds: Core rather large; seeds long, flattened (Elliott).
Season
October.
Uses
Not described in sources.
Subtypes & Variants
Not described in sources.
Book Sources
Described in 4 period pomological works
View original book sources (4)
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Green Mountain Boy.
An American variety.
Fruit medium, roundish obovate or obovate pyriform, golden yellow, with russety brown specks. Flesh yellowish, melting, juicy, sweet. Good. October. (Elliott.)
— U.P. Hedrick, The Pears of New York (1921)Green Mountain Boy.
- Elliott Fr. Book 386. 1859.
A native variety. Fruit medium, globular-obovate, or obovate-pyriform, golden yellow, with russety-brown specks; flesh yellowish, melting, juicy, sweet; very good; Oct.
— F.R. Elliott, The Western Fruit Book (1865)Green Mountain Boy.
American. Fruit, medium or above, roundish obovate, sometimes angular pyriform; stem, varying; calyx, open, reflexed segments; golden yellow or russety yellow, with numerous russety brown specks; core, rather large; seeds, long, flattened; flesh, yellowish, melting, juicy, sweet; "very good." October.
— John J. Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)Green Mountain Boy. Medium, round, obovate or pyriform, rich, yellow; melting, juicy, sweet; good. October.