Knight's Monarch
PearKnight's Monarch
Origin/History
An English pear raised by Thomas Andrew Knight. Has not proved of much value in the North; in the Southern States it promises well. Elliott notes it as a foreign variety requiring very high culture.
Tree
Growth habit and vigor: Vigorous, hardy, and productive (Downing). Requires very high culture (Elliott).
Wood/Bark: Wood of light olive color (Elliott).
Fruit
Size: Medium (Downing). Large (Elliott). [Sources conflict on size.]
Form: Roundish (Downing). Obovate oblong (Elliott). [Sources conflict on form.]
Stem: Short (Elliott).
Cavity: Not described in source.
Calyx: Open (Elliott).
Basin: Not described in source.
Skin: Yellowish green, with brown russet and many gray russet specks (Downing). Yellowish brown, tinged with red, dotted with gray (Elliott). [Sources conflict on skin color and finish; Downing emphasizes russet; Elliott describes a redder, browner ground with gray dots.]
Flesh/Flavor: Yellowish, melting, sweet, agreeable; quality rated Good (Downing). Yellowish white, melting, juicy (Elliott).
Core/Seeds: Not described in source.
Season
December–January (Downing). January (Elliott).
Uses
Not described in source.
Subtypes/Variants
Also listed under the name Monarch (Downing).
Other
Not described in source.
Book Sources
Described in 2 period pomological works
Nursery Catalog Sources
Found in 2 catalogs (1900–1911) from England
- George Bunyard & Co. , Royal Nurseries, Maidstone, Kent , England — 1900
- 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)Knight's Monarch.
Monarch.
An English Pear, raised by Thomas Andrew Knight, which has not proved of much value at the North. In the Southern States it promises well. Tree vigorous, hardy, and productive.
Fruit medium, roundish, yellowish green, with brown russet and many gray russet specks. Flesh yellowish, melting, sweet, agreeable. Good. December, January.
— F.R. Elliott, The Western Fruit Book (1865)Knight's Monarch. Foreign. A variety requiring very high culture ; wood, light olive color. Fruit, large, obovate oblong, yellowish brown, tinged with red, dotted with gray ; stem, short ; calyx, open ; flesh, yellowish white, melting, juicy. January.