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Henri Quatre

Pear

Henri Quatre

Origin/History

On the authority of Diel, this pear was originated by M. de Witzthumb before 1815, and was afterward described by the Vicomte Vilain XIV, mayor of Ghent under Napoleon I. Referenced in Magazine of Horticulture (12:173, 175. 1846), Leroy's Dictionnaire de Pomologie (2:277, fig. 1869), and Downing's Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (782. 1869), where it appears under the alternate designation Henry the Fourth.

Tree

Not described in source.

Fruit

Size and Form: Below medium. Obtuse-pyriform, rather variable, often contorted, and always has one side larger than the other.

Stem: Not described in source.

Cavity: Not described in source.

Calyx: Not described in source.

Basin: Not described in source.

Skin: Greenish-white, becoming deep lemon-yellow as it reaches maturity; much covered with fine cinnamon-russet, on which are small greenish dots.

Flesh and Flavor: Flesh yellowish, coarse or semi-fine, breaking, gritty at center; very rich, sweet, juicy, and with an aromatic flavor. Quality: good.

Core and Seeds: Not described in source.

Season

October.

Uses

Not described in source.

Subtypes/Variants

Not described in source.

Book Sources

Described in 2 period pomological works

View original book sources (2)

Henri Quatre.

  1. Mag. Hort. 12:173, 175. 1846.
  2. Leroy Dict. Pom. 2:277, fig. 1869.

Henry the Fourth. 3. Downing Fr. Trees Am. 782. 1869.

On the authority of Diel it appears that this pear was originated by M. de Witzthumb before 1815, and was afterward described by the Vicomte Vilain XIV, mayor of Ghent under Napoleon I. Fruit below medium, obtuse-pyriform, rather variable, often contorted and always has one side larger than the other, greenish-white, becoming deep lemon-yellow as it reaches maturity, much covered with fine cinnamon-russet on which are small greenish dots; flesh yellowish, coarse or semi-fine, breaking, gritty at center, very rich, sweet, juicy and with an aromatic flavor; good; Oct.

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

Henri Quatre. See Henry IV.

— John J. Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)
Favori du Conseiller Henri IV Henri The Fourth Henry IV Henry the Fourth Jacquin Ananas Henry the Fourth Henry IV