Haddington
Pear
Origin/History
Raised in 1828 by J. B. Smith, a farmer near Haddington, Philadelphia, from seed of a Pound pear (Hedrick). Downing and Elliott corroborate Smith as the originator, with Elliott specifying the location as "Haddington, Pa." and describing Smith as "Esq."
Tree
Vigorous, spreading (Downing). Elliott adds that the tree is productive.
Fruit
Size: Above medium (Downing, Hedrick, Elliott). Thomas describes it as "rather large."
Form: Obovate or pyriform (Downing). Hedrick gives obovate-pyriform. Elliott describes it as oblong obovate pyriform. Thomas gives obovate pyriform.
Skin: Greenish yellow, with a brownish cheek (Downing, Hedrick, Elliott). Hedrick and Elliott both note minute russet dots and patches on the skin.
Stem: Slender, inserted in a small cavity (Downing). Elliott describes the stem as medium length, with a shallow cavity.
Calyx: Small, in a round, shallow basin (Downing). Elliott describes the calyx as medium, with short, erect segments.
Basin: Round and shallow (Downing).
Core/Seeds: Core medium; seeds long, ovate (Elliott).
Flesh/Flavor: Yellow (Downing) or yellowish (Hedrick, Elliott), crisp (Downing, Thomas), juicy, with an aromatic flavor (all sources agree on aromatic character). Hedrick notes the texture varies: "some being quite melting, others inclined to break." Downing describes the flesh as crisp and juicy; Hedrick's note on variable texture — sometimes melting, sometimes breaking — may reflect variation across specimens.
Quality: Rated "Good" by Downing and Hedrick. Elliott rates it "very good."
Season
January to April (Downing, Hedrick, Elliott). Thomas simply notes "Winter."
Uses
Thomas specifies baking.
Subtypes/Variants
Not described in source.
Other
Not described in source.
Book Sources
Described in 4 period pomological works
View original book sources (4)
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Haddington.
Raised by J. B. Smith, Philadelphia. Tree vigorous, spreading.
Fruit above medium, obovate or pyriform. Color greenish yellow, with a brownish cheek. Stalk slender, inserted in a small cavity. Calyx small, in a round, shallow basin. Flesh yellow, crisp, juicy, with an aromatic flavor. Good. January till April.
— U.P. Hedrick, The Pears of New York (1921)Haddington. i. Mag. Hort. 13:274. 1847. In 1828 J. B. Smith, a farmer near Haddington, Philadelphia, raised this pear from seed of a Pound pear. Fruit above medium, obovate-pyriform, greenish-yellow, with a brownish cheek and minute russet dots and patches; flesh yellowish, juicy, aromatic; texture varies, some being quite melting, others inclined to break; good; Jan. to Apr.
— F.R. Elliott, The Western Fruit Book (1865)HADDINGTON. Smith's Haddington.
American. From seed of Pound Pear, grown by J. B. Smith, Esq., at Haddington, Pa. Tree, vigorous, productive. Fruit, above medium, oblong obovate pyriform, greenish yellow, brownish cheeks, and russet dots and patches; stem, medium; cavity, shallow; calyx, medium; segments, short, erect: core, medium; seeds, long, ovate; flesh, yellowish, juicy, aromatic; "very good." January to April.
— John J. Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)Haddington. Rather large, obovate pyriform, greenish-yellow; crisp, aromatic—baking. Winter. Phila.