Honey
PearOrigin/History
Originally a European variety known as Deux Fois L'An (Two Times a Year), so named for its habit of flowering twice in the season, with the second crop ripening in September or October. Its origin is ancient and uncertain; Le Lectier at Orleans possessed it in his immense orchard in 1598, and Merlet described it in 1675. In America it has been known as Honey. Elliott (1865) records that the variety was received by Professor Kirkland, and that Elliott was "unable to recognize with any description published, if we except a slight note in Prince's Pomological Manual."
Tree
Moderately vigorous; wood yellowish brown. An early and productive bearer, yielding fruit uniform in size and regular shape. (Elliott; not described in Hedrick.)
Fruit
Size: Medium or below (Hedrick); below medium (Elliott).
Form: The two sources describe the shape differently. Hedrick characterizes it as globular-pyriform, rarely very obtuse, generally much swelled in the lower part and diminishing abruptly toward the stem. Elliott describes it as roundish, tapering slightly to the stem.
Stem: Rather stout, uneven, without depression (Elliott; not described in Hedrick).
Cavity: No cavity at the stem end (stem set without depression; Elliott). Not described in Hedrick.
Calyx: Open, with half-reflexed segments (Elliott; not described in Hedrick).
Basin: Shallow, little russeted (Elliott; not described in Hedrick).
Skin: The two sources differ on color. Hedrick describes the skin as rather bright greenish-yellow, stained and dotted with gray chiefly on the side exposed to the sun, where it is also rayed and washed with carmine. Elliott describes it as rich golden russet yellow with a faint blush, many small red russet dots, and occasional patches of brown russet.
Flesh: Both sources note a somewhat coarse grain. Hedrick describes the flesh as yellowish, coarse, semi-breaking, and granular around the core. Elliott describes it as yellowish white, juicy, buttery, and a little coarse-grained.
Flavor: Sweet, with a pleasant musky flavor and juice in sufficient quantity (Hedrick). Sweet and perfumed (Elliott).
Core and Seeds: Core medium; seeds ovate, blackish (Elliott). Flesh granular around the core (Hedrick).
Season
August (Hedrick). A few days before Bartlett (Elliott). The two accounts are consistent. The variety's European name references a second flowering and a second crop ripening in September or October (Hedrick).
Uses
Not described in source.
Subtypes/Variants
Not described in source.
Book Sources
Described in 2 period pomological works
View original book sources (2)
— U.P. Hedrick, The Pears of New York (1921)Honey,
- Prince Pom. Man. 2:216. 1832. 2. Downing Fr. Trees Am. 784. 1869. Deux Fois L'An. 3. Leroy Dict. Pom. 2:20, fig. 1869.
Although known in this country as Honey, its original European name is Deux Fois L'An, or Two Times a Year, on account of its flowering twice in the season, the second crop ripening in September or October. It is of ancient and uncertain origin, but Le Lectier at Orleans possessed it in his immense orchard in 1598, and Merlet described it in 1675.
Fruit medium or below, globular-pyriform, rarely very obtuse, generally much swelled in the lower part, diminishing abruptly toward the stem, rather bright greenish-yellow, stained and dotted with gray chiefly on the side exposed to the sun where it is also rayed and washed with carmine; flesh yellowish, coarse, semi-breaking, granular around the core; juice sufficient, sugary and possessing a pleasant, musky flavor; Aug.
— F.R. Elliott, The Western Fruit Book (1865)Honey.
This is a delicious little pear, received some year since by Professor Kirkland, and which we have been unable to recognize with any description published, if we except a slight note in Prince's Pomological Manual. The tree is moderately vigorous; wood, yellowish brown, an early and productive bearer of fruit, uniform in size and regular shape. Our drawing is too small.
Fruit, below medium, roundish, tapering slightly to the stem; color, rich golden russet yellow, with faint blush, many small red russet dots, and occasional patches of brown russet; stem, rather stout, uneven, without depression; calyx, with open half reflexed segments; basin, shallow, little russeted; core, medium; seeds, ovate, blackish; flesh, yellowish white, juicy, buttery, a little coarse-grained, sweet, perfumed. Ripe a few days before Bartlett.