Japan Golden Russet
Pear
USDA Pomological Watercolor Collection
Japan Golden Russet
Origin/History
Known under the names Golden Russet and Canners Japan. Referenced in Thomas's American Fruit Culturist (1903) and promoted in commercial nursery catalogs by the early 20th century, including the Huntsville Nursery catalog (1915).
Tree
Very hardy. A young bearer, frequently blossoming in its first year and setting fruit by the second year.
Fruit
Form and Size: Large to medium. Apple-shaped, rather flat, regular (symmetrical).
Skin: Light lemon-yellow ground color. Many fine dots scattered across the surface. Russetting present, especially concentrated about the stem.
Flesh and Flavor: Juicy and aromatic with a slightly sweetish taste. Texture coarse. Overall quality rated as poor.
Season
October.
Related Varieties
Said to closely resemble Gold Dust and Japan Wonder.
Other
Not described in source.
Book Sources
Described in 1 period pomological work
Nursery Catalog Sources
Found in 5 catalogs (1901–1913) from Arkansas, Nebraska, Washington
- Yarbrough Bros. , Stephens , Arkansas — 1901
- Russellville Nursery Co. , Montavilla Station, Portland, OR (three miles east of Portland, one mile from Montavilla car line) — 1907
- Galbraith Nursery Co. (DeWitt Hansen , Pres.-Mgr.), Fairbury , Nebraska — 1911
- Vineland Nurseries Company , Clarkston , Washington — 1912
- Van Holderbeke Nursery Co. , Incorporated, Spokane, Washington (nurseries at Otis Orchards WA, Pasadena WA, Kennewick WA) — 1913
View original book sources (1)
— U.P. Hedrick, The Pears of New York (1921)Japan Golden Russet,
- Thomas Am. Fruit Cult. 770. 1903. Golden Russet.
- Cornell Sta. Bul. 332:482, fig. 162. 1914. Canners Japan.
- Huntsville Nurs. Cat. 5. 1915. Said to closely resemble Gold Dust and Japan Wonder. Tree very hardy and a young bearer, often blossoming the first year and setting the fruit the second. Fruit large to medium, apple-shaped, rather flat, regular, light lemon-yellow, with many fine dots, russeted, especially about the stem; flesh juicy, aromatic, slightly sweetish; poor; texture coarse; Oct.