Hessel

Pear

Hessel

Origin/History

A Scotch pear, also known in period sources as Hazel and Hasselbirn. Elliott classifies it as "Foreign." No further origin details are given in the sources.

Tree

Very productive, according to Downing. No further tree characteristics described in sources.

Fruit

Size and Form: Small, obovate. All three sources agree on this form.

Stem: Not described in sources.

Cavity: Not described in sources.

Calyx: Not described in sources.

Basin: Not described in sources.

Skin: Yellowish green.

Flesh/Flavor: Whitish and juicy (Downing). All sources concur it is of little or no value as a table fruit.

Core/Seeds: Not described in sources.

Season

Ripens in September. Downing specifies the first of September.

Uses

Not described in sources. Quality rated as of little or no value by Downing and Thomas.

Subtypes/Variants

Not described in sources.

Other

Not described in sources.

Book Sources

Described in 3 period pomological works

View original book sources (3)

Hessel.

Hazel. Hasselbirn.

A Scotch Pear, very productive.

Fruit small, obovate. Skin yellowish green. Flesh whitish, juicy, of little or no value. First of September.

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

Hessel. Hazel. Foreign. Small, obovate, yellowish green. September.

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

Hessel. Small, obovate, yellowish-green—of little value. September. Scotch.

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

Hasselbirn Hazel Hessle Hazel