Hosenschenk
PearHosenschenk
Origin/History
Hosenschenk originated in Pennsylvania, raised from seed on the farm of John Schenck (also spelled Schenk in later sources), Weaver Township, Pennsylvania. Hedrick dates the raising to about the year 1803. The variety is first cited in the Horticulturist (8:458, 1853), with subsequent treatment in Downing (1869) and later references.
Tree
Tree vigorous and productive (Downing). Young wood grayish olive brown (Downing).
Not further described in sources.
Fruit
Size: Elliott describes the fruit as large; Downing and Hedrick both describe it as medium.
Form: Elliott gives the form as obovate. Downing describes it as roundish oblate; Hedrick likewise as roundish-oblate.
Stem: About an inch long, rather stout, inserted without much depression, sometimes by a lip (Downing).
Cavity: Not described in source.
Calyx: Small (Downing).
Basin: Deep (Downing).
Skin: Light yellowish green, rarely with a blush (Downing, Hedrick). Elliott describes the color simply as yellow.
Flesh and Flavor: Rather coarse, tender, juicy, melting, slightly vinous, with a pleasant flavor (Downing, Hedrick). Hedrick characterizes the flavor as mild and pleasant. Elliott agrees on the melting quality but rates the flavor as not high, with quality described as variable — a divergence from Downing's assessment of good to very good and Hedrick's rating of first quality.
Core/Seeds: Not described in source.
Season
Ripens at the end of August or the last of August (all sources agree).
Uses
Not described in source.
Subtypes/Variants
Not described in source.
Book Sources
Described in 3 period pomological works
- Hedrick, The Pears of New York (1921)
- Downing, Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900) — listed as HOSENSCHENCK
- Elliott, The Western Fruit Book (1865) — listed as Hosen-Schenck
Nursery Catalog Sources
Found in 2 catalogs (1901–1913) from Illinois
- Benjamin Buckman (personal inventory) , Farmingdale , Illinois — 1901
- Benjamin Buckman (personal inventory) , Farmingdale , Illinois — 1913
View original book sources (3)
— F.R. Elliott, The Western Fruit Book (1865)HOSEN-SCHENCK. Schenck's Pear, | Schenck's August Watermelon, Smokehouse, | Butter Pear.
American. From Pennsylvania. Fruit, large, obovate, yellow, melting, not high flavor; quality, variable. Last of August.
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)HOSENSCHENCK.
Hosenshenck. Queen of August. Shenk's. Moore's Pound. Watermelon. Eshleman. Smokehouse. Moore's Pear. Butter Pear.
This Pear originated on the farm of John Schenck, Weaver Township, Pa. Tree vigorous, productive. Young wood grayish olive brown.
Fruit of medium size, roundish oblate. Skin light yellowish green, rarely with a blush. Stalk about an inch long, rather stout, inserted without much depression, sometimes by a lip. Calyx small. Basin deep. Flesh rather coarse, tender, juicy, slightly vinous, melting, with a pleasant flavor. Good to very good. Ripens the last of August.
— U.P. Hedrick, The Pears of New York (1921)Hosenschenk.
- Horticulturist 8:458. 1853.
- Downing Fr. Trees Am. 784. 1869.
Raised from seed about the year 1803 by John Schenk, Weaver Township, Pa. Fruit medium, roundish-oblate, light yellowish-green, rarely blushed; flesh rather coarse, tender, juicy, melting, slightly vinous, with a mild and pleasant flavor; first; end of Aug.