Japan Golden Russet
Pear
USDA Pomological Watercolor Collection
Japan Golden Russet
Origin / History
Japan. Listed by Budd and Hansen (1914) as "Japan Russet". Planted at the Central Experimental Farm, Agassiz, British Columbia, in spring 1893. Said to closely resemble Gold Dust and Japan Wonder (Hedrick, 1921).
Tree
Trees small, round-topped, with large shining leaves; fruit borne in clusters (Budd and Hansen). As a lawn tree in the background it is ornamental (Budd and Hansen). A vigorous and upright grower (Agassiz catalogue, 1900). Very hardy and a young bearer, often blossoming the first year and setting the fruit the second (Hedrick).
Fruit
Size: Below medium to large. Medium (Budd and Hansen); large to medium (Hedrick); below medium (Agassiz catalogue).
Form: Apple-shaped, flat (Budd and Hansen) or rather flat, regular (Hedrick). Oval in the Agassiz catalogue.
Stem: Not described in source.
Cavity: Not described in source.
Calyx: Not described in source.
Basin: Not described in source.
Skin: Yellow, overspread with golden russet (Budd and Hansen); light lemon-yellow, russeted, especially about the stem (Hedrick). Greenish russet in the Agassiz catalogue. Fruit handsome (Budd and Hansen).
Dots: Many, fine (Hedrick); many, gray (Agassiz catalogue).
Flesh and flavor: Juicy. White, firm; "flavour peculiar, not specially pleasant" (Agassiz catalogue). Aromatic, slightly sweetish; texture coarse; quality "poor" (Hedrick).
Core and seeds: Not described in source.
Season
October (Hedrick); October and November (Agassiz catalogue).
Uses
Culinary; the fruit has value for this use as grown at the West (Budd and Hansen).
Subtypes / Variants
Not described in source.
Other
Not described in source.
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 — listed as Japanese Russett
- 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.