Henri Van Mons'

Pear

Henri Van Mons' Pear

Origin/History

One of Van Mons' earliest seedlings. Known also under the names Bergamotte Rouge Tardif, Beurre Rouge Tardif, Fleur de Neige, and Snow Flower.

Tree

Very vigorous and hardy, holding its foliage late in the season, and an abundant bearer. Young wood clear olive.

Fruit

Size: Medium to large (Downing); medium (Thomas).

Form: Elongated acute pyriform (Downing); pyriform, nearly Tyson-shaped (Thomas).

Stem: Long, rather slender, curved, set without cavity.

Cavity: None.

Calyx: Open. Segments long, generally recurved.

Basin: Small, uneven.

Skin: Pale yellow, shaded and mottled with brownish red or crimson on the sun-exposed side, netted and patched with russet, and thickly sprinkled with russet dots (Downing). Thomas describes the color more briefly as yellowish with a blush.

Flesh/Flavor: Yellowish, juicy, melting, and sweet (Downing). Buttery, vinous, perfumed, and agreeable (Thomas).

Core/Seeds: Not described in source.

Season

October.

Uses

Not described in source.

Subtypes/Variants

Not described in source.

Other

Rated good to very good (Downing).

Book Sources

Described in 2 period pomological works

View original book sources (2)

Henri Van Mons'.

Bergamotte Rouge Tardif. Fleur de Neige. Beurre Rouge Tardif. Snow Flower.

One of Van Mons' earliest seedlings. Tree very vigorous, hardy, holding its foliage late in the season, and an abundant bearer. Young wood clear olive.

Fruit medium to large, elongated acute pyriform, pale yellow, shaded and mottled with brownish red or crimson in the sun, netted and patched with russet, and thickly sprinkled with russet dots. Stalk long, rather slender, curved, without cavity. Calyx open. Segments long, generally recurved. Basin small, uneven. Flesh yellowish, juicy, melting, sweet. Good to very good. October.

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

Henri Van Mons. Medium, pyriform (nearly Tyson-shaped), yellowish with a blush; buttery, vinous, perfumed, agreeable. October.

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

Bergamotte Rouge Tardif Beurre Curtel Beurre Curtet Beurre Cutter Beurre Quetelet Beurre Rouge Tardif Bis-Curtet Comte Lamay Comte Lamy Curtet's Butterbirne Curtet’s Butterbirne Dingler Fleur de Neige Graf Lamy Henry Van Mons Marie-Louise II Marie-Louise the Second Quetelet Snow Flower COMTE DE LAMY Lamy Colmar Neill Notaire Minot Fleur de Neige