Hosenschenk

Pear

Hosenschenk

Origin/History

Raised from seed about the year 1803 by John Schenk (Downing spells the name Schenck), Weaver Township, Pennsylvania. The variety was noted in the Horticulturist (8:458, 1853) and in Downing's Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (784, 1869).

Tree

Vigorous and productive. Young wood grayish olive brown.

Fruit

Size and Form: Medium size, roundish oblate.

Stem: About an inch long, rather stout, inserted without much depression, sometimes by a fleshy lip. (Downing)

Calyx: Small. (Downing)

Basin: Deep. (Downing)

Skin: Light yellowish green, rarely with a blush.

Flesh/Flavor: Rather coarse, tender, juicy, melting, slightly vinous, with a mild and pleasant flavor. Rated good to very good (Downing); first quality (Hedrick).

Core/Seeds: Not described in source.

Season

Ripens the last of August.

Uses

Not described in source.

Subtypes/Variants

Not described in source.

Other

Not described in source.

Book Sources

Described in 2 period pomological works

View original book sources (2)

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 Hosenshenck Moore's Pear Moore's Pound Queen of August Shenk's Smoke House Smokehouse Watermelon Yellow Butter White Doyenné Citron Henri Bouet Passans du Portugal Collins Hosen-Schenck Hosenshenck Moore Doyenne White Penn Windsor Moore's Pound