THE HEATHCOT PEAR,

Heathcot. New England Farmer, vol. vii. p. 82. Gore's Heathcot, Prince's Pom. Manual, vol. i.

The Heathcot was one of the earliest American pears which was brought to notice. At the period of its introduction only two or three varieties were admitted by pomologists to be worthy of general cultivation. The late Hon. John Lowell, in 1828, stated, that, "although it was thirty-three years since he had turned his attention to horticulture, he was not able to recollect any valuable table pear, the evidence of whose origin in this country was deemed unquestionable, except the Seckel, the Johonnot, the Lewis, and the Heathcot." From this, it will be seen how few were the fine native pears which we possessed twenty years ago. But Mr. Lowell's remarks, though nearly correct when written, have no application now. Had we space, we should like to make an enumeration of the choice native pears, at present known, for comparison with the list of 1828. Every intelligent cultivator will, however, supply the information himself; and he must feel that we have done more, in this short space of time, in adding to the list of fine varieties, than all the cultivators of Europe, excepting Van Mons, during the present century.

The Heathcot was raised in 1812, in the garden of the late Hon. Christopher Gore, in Waltham, Mass., and was so named in honor of the gardener who planted the seed. It first fruited in 1824, and continued to bear a uniform crop up to 1828, when it was brought to the notice of cultivators by the late Capt. Jonathan Winship of Brighton. In 1830, specimens were exhibited from the original tree, which weighed upwards of eight ounces each. Since that time the variety has become much disseminated, though it is by no means very generally cultivated.

The tree is a healthy and moderately vigorous grower, of upright habit, making a great number of short, slender branches, which, unless judiciously thinned out, form a thick and bushy head. The lateral branches diverge in a very regular manner. It is rather slow in coming into bearing, but produces a uniform crop every year. It does not grow freely on the quince.

Tree. — Moderately vigorous, upright, and tolerably regular in form, the branches making a slight curve upwards; annual wood rather slender. Young trees in the nursery branch very near the ground.

Wood. — Reddish brown, dotted with small whitish specks, rather slender and short-jointed; old wood pale grayish brown; buds, large, short, full, erect, with prominent shoulders: Flower-buds, medium size.

Leaves. — Small, oblong ovate, broadest about the middle, narrowing to the base, tapering regularly to the point, recurved on the midrib, folded inwards, thickly nerved, dark green, and distinctly, but not deeply, serrated; petioles, medium length, about one and a half inches long and rather slender.

Flowers. — Rather small; petals oblong, somewhat cupped.

Fruit. — Medium size, about three inches long, and nearly three in diameter: Form, obovate, tapering roundly to an obtuse point at the stem: Skin, greenish yellow, becoming lemon yellow when mature, more or less clouded, and interlaced with russet, particularly around the eye and stem, and slightly browned on the sunny side: Stem, medium length, about three quarters of an inch long, rather stout, somewhat knobby, dull brown, curved, and obliquely inserted in a small, round, moderately deep cavity, highest on one side: Eye, small, closed, and slightly depressed, in a small, uneven, ridged, basin; segments of the calyx short, thick and fleshy: Flesh, yellowish white, fine, very melting, buttery and juicy: Flavor, rich, sprightly, vinous and excellent, with a slight perfume: Core, rather large: Seeds, large, peculiarly pointed at the obtuse end, dark brown.

Ripe in October and keeps well for some time.

— C.M. Hovey, The Fruits of America (1852)

Heathcot. Gore's Heathcot. Native of Waltham, Mass. Tree, hardy, a moderate grower, branches slender, when grown makes a compact head unless well thinned out; young shoots reddish brown. Fruit, medium or above, obovate rounded; skin, rough; color, greenish yellow, yellow increasing at maturity, some russet around stem and eye; stem, medium; cavity shallow; calyx, partly closed; basin, narrow; core, above medium; seeds, dark brown, pointed; flesh, white, buttery, juicy, vinous and sprightly. October.

— F.R. Elliott, The Western Fruit Book (1865)

Heathcot.

Gore's Heathcot.

The Heathcot originated on the farm of Governor Gore, in Waltham, Mass., by Mr. Heathcot, then a tenant; the original tree came into bearing in 1824. Tree moderately vigorous. Young shoots upright, reddish brown.

Fruit of medium size, regularly obovate, pale greenish yellow, with a very few dots, and a few russet streaks. Stalk an inch long, planted in a very small cavity. Calyx closed, and set in a rather narrow and shallow basin. Flesh white, buttery, and melting, moderately juicy, with an agreeable vinous flavor. Good to very good. Middle and last of September.

— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)

Heathcot. (Gore's Heathcot.) Medium size, obovate, regular (Buffum form), base obtuse; surface greenish-yellow, partly overspread with thin russet; stalk an inch long, rather stout; cavity moderate or small; calyx partly closed; basin small; flesh fine grained, buttery, with a rich, perfumed, and excellent flavor—sometimes hardly first-rate. Early mid-autumn. Shoots slender, upright, reddish-brown. Very productive and profitable. Origin, Waltham, Mass. Fig. 672.

— John J. Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)

Heathcot

1. Mag. Hort. 12:438. fig. 33. 1846.

Raised in 1812 on the estate of Governor Gore in Waltham, Mass. Fruit medium, obovate, greenish-yellow becoming lemon-yellow, very few dots and a few russet streaks, slightly browned on the sunny side; flesh yellowish-white, fine, very melting, buttery and juicy; in flavor it is rich, sprightly, juicy and ncrrilent, with little perfume: Oct.

— U.P. Hedrick, The Pears of New York (1921)