Johonnot
PearOrigin & History
Raised by George S. Johonnot of Salem, Massachusetts, and first came into bearing about 1823 (Hedrick). Early references include Kenrick's American Orchardist (1832) and the Magazine of Horticulture (1847).
Tree
A healthy grower with an upright, spreading habit (Elliott). Wood dark reddish brown (Elliott); shoots reddish, short, diverging (Thomas). Productive (Elliott). Elliott describes the tree as a moderate grower suited to orcharding in Western rich soils, but Thomas states that the value of this fine little pear is lessened by the slow growth of the tree — a direct conflict on vigor.
Fruit
Size: Sources disagree. Downing and Hedrick describe the fruit as medium; Elliott says below medium; Thomas says rather small.
Form: Roundish-obovate, irregular. Hedrick describes it as globular-obovate, swollen on one side, hardly tapering to the stem. Elliott adds angular. Thomas notes it is sometimes nearly round. Downing describes a "peculiar irregular form."
Stem: Sources vary in detail. Downing describes the stalk as short and thick, planted by the side of a swollen protuberance. Elliott says stout, fleshy at base. Thomas gives the most detail: about an inch long, thick, oblique, fleshy at insertion, not sunk.
Cavity: Not described in source.
Calyx: Large, open (Elliott).
Basin: Round (Thomas).
Skin: Pale greenish-yellow, partially covered with dull russet. Hedrick adds that the skin is slightly rough, very thin, and a little browned on the sunny side. Thomas describes it as pale greenish-yellow and yellowish-brown, faintly russeted. Downing simply says dull yellowish.
Flesh & Flavor: White, rather coarse, melting. Hedrick: "melting and very juicy, rich, brisk, with a delicious, musky aroma." Thomas: "rather coarse, melting, buttery, rich, of fine flavor." Downing: "melting, buttery, and good." Elliott: "white, rather coarse, melting, juicy, vinous" — the only source to note a vinous character. Quality rated good (Hedrick), almost "best" (Elliott).
Core & Seeds: Core large (Hedrick, Elliott) and slightly gritty (Hedrick). Seeds small (Elliott).
Season
September (Hedrick, Elliott). Downing extends through October. Thomas gives early mid-autumn.
Uses
Not described in source.
Subtypes & Variants
Not described in source.
Book Sources
Described in 4 period pomological works
View original book sources (4)
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Johonnot.
Franklin.
Originated in the garden of George S. Johonnot, Esq., of Salem, Mass.
The fruit is of medium size, of a roundish and peculiar irregular form, dull yellowish. Stalk short and thick, planted by the side of a swollen protuberance. The flesh is melting, buttery, and good. September, October.
— U.P. Hedrick, The Pears of New York (1921)Johonnot.
- Kenrick Am. Orch. 177. 1832.
- Mag. Hart. 13:484, fig. 40. 1847.
Raised by George S. Johonnot, Salem, Mass., and first came into bearing about 1823. Fruit medium, globular-obovate, irregular, swollen on one side, hardly tapering to the stem; skin slightly rough, very thin, pale greenish-yellow, partially covered with dull russet, and a little browned on the sunny side; flesh white, coarse, melting and very juicy, rich, brisk, with a delicious, musky aroma; core large and slightly gritty; good; Sept.
— F.R. Elliott, The Western Fruit Book (1865)JOHONNOT. Franklin. American. Native of Salem, Mass. Tree, moderate, healthy grower, upright, spreading : wood, dark reddish brown; suited to orcharding in our Western rich soils; productive. Fruit, below medium, roundish obovate, angular, greenish yellow, dull russet ; stem, stout, fleshy at base ; calyx, large, open; core, large, seeds, small : flesh, white, rather coarse, melting, juicy, vinous; almost "best." September.
— John J. Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)Johonnot. Rather small, roundish-obovate, sometimes nearly round, irregular; skin pale greenish-yellow and yellowish-brown, faintly russeted; stalk about an inch long, thick, oblique, fleshy at insertion, not sunk; basin round; flesh rather coarse, melting, buttery, rich, of fine flavor. Early mid-autumn. Origin, Salem, Mass. The value of this fine little pear is lessened by the slow growth of the tree. Shoots reddish, short, diverging.