Huyshe's Victoria
PearHuyshe's Victoria
Origin/History
Raised by the Rev. John Huyshe, a clergyman at Cryshydon Rectory, near Cullompton, Devon, England, about 1833, from pips of a single fruit of Marie Louise hybridized with Gansel Bergamot. Three plants resulted; one produced fruit in 1854 or 1855 and was named Huyshe Victoria. The other two fruited in subsequent years and were named Huyshe Prince of Wales and Huyshe Princess of Wales, respectively. These three, together with a fourth variety, Huyshe Prince Consort, became known collectively as the Royal Pears. The variety had fruited in several collections in the United States by the time of Downing's account.
Tree
Vigorous (Hedrick), described by Downing as a good grower. Habit spreading. Very productive (Hedrick). Young wood dull brown (Downing).
Fruit
Size and Form: Medium in size, ovate-pyriform or ovate-acute-pyriform.
Skin: Yellow ground. Downing describes it as considerably patched and netted with russet and thickly sprinkled with green and brown dots. Hedrick describes the russet as thin, smooth, and cinnamon-colored, appearing as freckles and veins; Hedrick does not mention the green and brown dots noted by Downing.
Stem: Medium length, stout, generally inclined, inserted into the fruit without depression (no cavity).
Cavity: None; stem inserted without depression.
Calyx: Open.
Basin: Medium, uneven (Downing). Not described in Hedrick.
Flesh: Yellowish, juicy, melting, vinous (both sources agree). Quality rated good to very good.
Season
November.
Uses
Not described in source.
Subtypes/Variants
Not described in source.
Other
Not described in source.
Book Sources
Described in 2 period pomological works
Nursery Catalog Sources
Found in 1 catalog (1911) from England
- James Veitch & Sons , Ltd., Royal Exotic Nursery, Chelsea, London (also Coombe Wood, Langley, and Feltham) , England — 1911
View original book sources (2)
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Huyshe's Victoria.
This Pear is of the same origin as Huyshe's Prince of Wales. It has fruited in several collections in this country. Tree a good grower, spreading. Young wood dull brown.
Fruit medium size, ovate pyriform or ovate acute pyriform, yellow, considerably patched and netted with russet, and thickly sprinkled with green and brown dots. Stalk medium length, stout, inclined, and joined to the fruit without depression. Calyx open. Basin medium, uneven. Flesh yellowish, juicy, melting, a little vinous. Good to very good. November.
— U.P. Hedrick, The Pears of New York (1921)Huyshe Victoria,
- Jour. Hort. 4:76. 1863.
- Bunyard Handb. Hardy Fr. 181. 1920. Victoria.
- Card. Chron. 836, fig. 2. 1857. Victoria of Huyshe.
- Pom. Gen. 7:33, fig. 497. 1881.
Rev. John Huyshe, a clergyman at Cryshydon Rectory, near Cullompton, Devon, Eng., raised, about 1833, three plants from pips of one fruit from Marie Louise, hybridized with Gansel Bergamot. Of these three plants one produced fruit in 1854 or 1855 and was named Huyshe Victoria. The other two fruited in subsequent years and were named Huyshe Prince of Wales and Huyshe Princess of Wales, respectively; these three together with a fourth, Huyshe Prince Consort, being known as the Royal Pears.
Tree vigorous, spreading, very productive.
Fruit medium in size, ovate-pyriform or ovate-acute-pyriform, yellow, freckled and veined with thin smooth cinnamon-russet; stem medium in length, stout, generally inclined and inserted without depression; calyx open; flesh yellowish, juicy, melting, vinous; good to very good; Nov.