Japan Golden Russet
Pear
USDA Pomological Watercolor Collection
Japan Golden Russet
Origin/History
Japan Golden Russet is of Japanese origin (Budd & Hansen). It is noted to closely resemble Gold Dust and Japan Wonder (Hedrick). The variety appears in Thomas, American Fruit Culturist (1903); Cornell Station Bulletin 332 (1914), where it is also listed under the name Golden Russet; and the Huntsville Nursery Catalogue (1915), where it appears under the name Canners Japan. A trial planting at the Central Experimental Farm, Agassiz, BC was established in Spring 1893.
Tree
Budd & Hansen describe small, round-topped trees with large, shining leaves; the fruit grows in clusters. Hedrick notes the tree as very hardy and a young bearer, often blossoming the first year and setting fruit the second. The Central Experimental Farm trial describes the tree as a vigorous and upright grower.
Fruit
Size
Sources disagree. Budd & Hansen give medium. Hedrick gives large to medium. The Central Experimental Farm trial gives below medium size.
Form
Described as apple-shaped and rather flat, regular (Budd & Hansen; Hedrick). The Central Experimental Farm trial describes the fruit as oval.
Stem
Not described in source.
Cavity
Not described in source.
Calyx
Not described in source.
Basin
Not described in source.
Skin
Sources differ in color. Budd & Hansen describe the color as yellow, overspread with golden russet. Hedrick describes it as light lemon-yellow, with many fine dots, russeted especially about the stem. The Central Experimental Farm trial describes the skin as greenish russet, with many gray dots.
Flesh and Flavor
Hedrick: flesh juicy, aromatic, slightly sweetish; quality poor; texture coarse. The Central Experimental Farm trial: flesh white, juicy, firm; flavour peculiar, not specially pleasant.
Core and Seeds
Not described in source.
Season
October (Hedrick). October and November (Central Experimental Farm).
Uses
Valued for culinary use, particularly as grown in the West (Budd & Hansen). The nursery name "Canners Japan" (Huntsville Nursery Catalogue, per Hedrick) suggests suitability for canning. Budd & Hansen also note its ornamental value as a lawn tree.
Other
Budd & Hansen remark that Japan Golden Russet is handsome and ornamental when planted as a background lawn tree.
Book Sources
Described in 2 period pomological works
- Hedrick, The Pears of New York (1921)
- Budd & Hansen, Systematic Pomology (1914) — listed as Japan Russet (Japan Golden Russet)
Nursery Catalog Sources
Found in 6 catalogs (1900–1913) from Arkansas, Nebraska, Washington
- Central Experimental Farm , Dominion Department of Agriculture, Agassiz, British Columbia (under test; Bulletin No. 3, Second Series) — 1900
- 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 (3)
— J.L. Budd & N.E. Hansen, American Horticultural Manual, Part II: Systematic Pomology (1914)Japan Russet (Japan Golden Russet). — Medium, flat, apple-shaped; color yellow, overspread with golden russet. The handsome fruit grows in clusters on small round-topped trees with large shining leaves. As a lawn tree in the background it is ornamental and the fruit has value as grown at the West for culinary use. Japan.
— 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.
— Central Experimental Farm, Central Experimental Farm, Agassiz BC — Catalogue of Fruit Trees under Test (Bulletin No. 3, 1900) (1900)Planted Spring 1893. Tree a vigorous and upright grower. Fruit below medium size, oval. Skin greenish russet, with many gray dots. Flesh white, juicy, firm, flavour peculiar, not specially pleasant. Season October and November.