Hosenschenk

Pear

Hosenschenk

Origin / History

American, from Pennsylvania (Elliott). Originated on the farm of John Schenck, Weaver Township, Pennsylvania (Downing). Hedrick, spelling the name Schenk, says it was raised from seed about the year 1803 by John Schenk, Weaver Township, Pa.; he cites Horticulturist 8:458, 1853, and Downing 784, 1869.

Tree

Tree vigorous, productive. Young wood grayish olive brown.

Fruit

Size: Medium; Elliott alone calls it large.

Form: Roundish oblate; Elliott alone gives obovate.

Stem: About an inch long, rather stout.

Cavity: Stem inserted without much depression, sometimes by a lip.

Calyx: Small.

Basin: Deep.

Skin: Light yellowish green, rarely with a blush; Elliott gives simply yellow.

Dots: Not described in source.

Flesh and flavor: Flesh rather coarse, tender, juicy, melting, slightly vinous. Flavor pleasant; "mild and pleasant" (Hedrick); "not high flavor" (Elliott). Quality "Good to very good" (Downing); "first" (Hedrick); "variable" (Elliott).

Core and seeds: Not described in source.

Season

Last of August, or end of August.

Uses

Not described in source.

Subtypes / Variants

Not described in source.

Other

Not described in source.

Book Sources

Described in 3 period pomological works

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)

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.

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

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.

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

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.

— U.P. Hedrick, The Pears of New York (1921)

Butter Pear Eshleman HOSENSCHENCK Hosen-Schenck Hosenshenck Moore's Pear Moore's Pound Queen of August Schenck's August Watermelon Schenck's Pear Shenk's Smokehouse Watermelon Limon Moore Passans du Portugal Penn Urbaniste Vicar Of Winkfield Windsor Yellow Butter