Henrietta
PearOrigin & History
A seedling raised by Governor Edwards of New Haven, Connecticut. Referenced in the Magazine of Horticulture as early as 1838 (Hedrick cites Mag. Hort. 4:231. 1838, and Ibid 487, fig. 42. 1847). Elliott notes the alternate designation Edwards' Henrietta.
Tree
A free grower of upright form and a good bearer (Downing). Vigorous, hardy, and productive (Elliott). Very productive (Thomas). Young wood reddish brown (Downing).
Fruit
Size: Medium (Downing, Hedrick, Elliott). Thomas describes it as a little below medium.
Form: Roundish oval (Downing). Obovate, inclining to oval, tapering towards each end and rather obtuse at the stem; described as a pretty pear (Hedrick). Obovate obtuse pyriform (Elliott). Obovate, crown flattened (Thomas).
Stem: An inch and a half long, set on the rounded point of the neck (Thomas). Rather obtuse at the stem (Hedrick).
Cavity: Small or none (Thomas). Russet at base of stem (Elliott).
Calyx: Closed (Elliott, Thomas).
Basin: Furrowed (Elliott). Shallow, faintly plaited (Thomas).
Skin: Greenish or greenish yellow, a little netted and patched with russet, with a tinge of red in the sun (Downing). Fair, smooth, dull yellow, tinged with red in the sun (Hedrick). Dull yellow with crimson spots in the sun, russet at base of stem (Elliott). Smooth, pale yellowish-green, dots few (Thomas).
Flesh & Flavor: Whitish green, juicy, half melting, sweet; good (Downing). White, rather coarse, melting, juicy; good (Hedrick). White, rather coarse, melting, juicy; "good" (Elliott). Melting, juicy, sub-acid, with a good second-rate flavor (Thomas). Sources disagree on flavor character: Downing describes the flesh as sweet, while Thomas calls it sub-acid. Downing describes the texture as half melting, while Hedrick, Elliott, and Thomas describe it as fully melting.
Core & Seeds: Core large (Elliott). Not otherwise described in sources.
Season & Uses
Late summer to September. Elliott gives "last August," Thomas says "late summer," and Downing and Hedrick both say September.
Uses not described in sources.
Subtypes & Variants
Elliott describes a distinct foreign Henrietta (citing "Al. Pom."), which is a different variety from the American seedling: Fruit small or medium, turbinate; skin rough, almost entirely covered with russet; flesh white, half fine, melting, abounding in juice, sugary, agreeably perfumed. A very good fruit, ripening in November.
Other
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)Henrietta.
Raised by Gov. Edwards, of New Haven, Conn. Tree a free grower, of upright form, a good bearer. Young wood reddish brown.
Fruit medium, roundish oval, greenish or greenish yellow, a little netted and patched with russet, tinge of red in the sun. Flesh whitish green, juicy, half melting, sweet. Good. September.
— U.P. Hedrick, The Pears of New York (1921)Henrietta.
- Mag. Hort. 4:231. 1838.
- Ibid 487, fig. 42. 1847.
A seedling of Governor Edwards, New Haven, Conn. Fruit a medium-sized and pretty pear, obovate, inclining to oval, tapering towards each end and rather obtuse at the stem; skin fair, smooth, dull yellow, tinged with red in the sun; flesh white, rather coarse, melting, juicy; good; Sept.
— F.R. Elliott, The Western Fruit Book (1865)Henrietta. Edwards' Henrietta. American. Native of New Haven, Conn. Tree, vigorous, hardy, productive. Fruit, medium, obovate obtuse pyriform, dull yellow crimson spots in sun, russet at base of stem ; calyx, closed ; basin, furrowed ; core, large ; flesh, white, rather coarse, melting, juicy : "good." Last August.
Henrietta. Foreign. Fruit, small or medium, turbinate ; skin, rough, almost entirely covered with russet ; flesh, white, half fine, melting, abounding in juice, sugary, agreeably perfumed. A very good fruit, ripening in November. (Al. Pom.)
— John J. Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)Henrietta. Size, a little below medium; obovate, crown flattened; stalk set on the rounded point of the neck; skin smooth, pale yellowish-green, dots few; stalk an inch and a half long, cavity small or none; calyx closed, basin shallow, faintly plaited; melting, juicy, sub-acid, with a good second-rate flavor. Very productive. Late summer. Origin, New Haven, Conn.