Huntington
PearOrigin & History
A wilding found by James Huntington at New Rochelle, New York, and brought to notice by S. P. Carpenter (Downing). In 1857 it was considered to be 20 or 30 years old (Hedrick). At the time of Downing's writing, the original tree still stood on Huntington's grounds.
Tree
Vigorous, forming a pyramid, an early and profuse bearer (Downing). Young shoots olive color (Downing). Elliott also notes the tree is an early bearer.
Fruit
Size: Descriptions vary slightly: nearly medium (Downing), medium (Thomas), under medium (Hedrick), and below medium (Elliott).
Form: Roundish oblate (Downing); globular-obovate (Hedrick); ovate obovate (Elliott); roundish, approaching obovate (Thomas).
Stem: Medium or long, nearly straight (Downing). Long, slender (Elliott). Medium or long (Thomas).
Cavity: Broad and uneven. Elliott adds that it is deep.
Calyx: Open, with stiff segments (Downing). Elliott describes the calyx as closed.
Basin: Broad and open (Downing). Abrupt, dotted with a few russet circles (Elliott). Moderate (Thomas).
Skin: Rough yellow, often shaded with crimson, thickly covered with gray and crimson dots, and russet patches (Downing). Yellow, with numerous russet dots and sometimes a red cheek (Hedrick). Green with a slight crimson tinge near the calyx, dotted with a few russet circles (Elliott). Yellow, rough, sometimes shaded crimson, slightly russeted, thickly dotted (Thomas).
Flesh & Flavor: White, very juicy, melting, buttery, with a very sweet, vinous flavor, delicately perfumed; very good (Downing). Fine texture, buttery, slightly vinous, with a delicate aroma; very good (Hedrick). Melting, juicy, buttery, delicate (Elliott). White, juicy, buttery, and melting, sweet, perfumed, excellent (Thomas).
Core & Seeds: Not described in sources.
Season
September. Thomas specifies the last half of September.
Uses
Not described in sources.
Subtypes & Variants
Not described in sources.
Book Sources
Described in 4 period pomological works
View original book sources (4)
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Huntington.
Origin, New Rochelle, and brought to our notice by S. P. Carpenter. It was found by Mr. Huntington, and now stands on his grounds. Tree vigorous, forming a pyramid, an early and profuse bearer. Young shoots olive color.
Fruit nearly medium in size, roundish oblate, rough yellow, often shaded with crimson, thickly covered with gray and crimson dots, and russet patches. Stalk medium or long, nearly straight. Cavity broad and uneven. Calyx open. Segments stiff. Basin broad and open. Flesh white, very juicy, melting, buttery, with a very sweet, vinous flavor, delicately perfumed. Very good. September.
— U.P. Hedrick, The Pears of New York (1921)Huntington.
- Mag. Hort. 23:111, fig. 4. 1857.
- Mas Le Verger 2:155, fig. 76. 1866-73. A wilding found by James Huntington, New Rochelle, N. Y. In 1857 it was considered to be 20 or 30 years old. Fruit under medium, globular-obovate, yellow, with numerous russet dots and sometimes a red cheek; flesh fine texture, buttery, slightly vinous, with a delicate aroma; very good; Sept.
— F.R. Elliott, The Western Fruit Book (1865)Huntington.
From New Rochelle, N. Y. Below medium, ovate obovate, green with a slight crimson tinge near calyx ; stem, long, slender; deep, broad, uneven cavity ; calyx, closed ; basin, abrupt, dotted with a few russet circles ; flesh, melting, juicy, buttery, delicate. Tree an early bearer. September.
— John J. Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)Huntington. Size medium, roundish, approaching obovate; yellow, rough, sometimes shaded crimson, slightly russeted, thickly dotted; stalk medium or long; cavity broad, uneven; basin moderate; flesh white, juicy, buttery, and melting, sweet, perfumed, excellent. Last half of September. Origin, New Rochelle, N. Y.