Lammas
PearLammas
Origin / History
Old variety (Downing). Originated possibly in the Highlands of Scotland, being recommended for that district by Lindley (Hedrick). Grown also in England. Bunyard gives the origin as undiscovered. Hedrick's references are Lindley, Guide Orch. Gard. 418 (1831), and Hogg, Fruit Man. 601 (1884). Downing: "We do not know of its ever fruiting in this country." Much grown around London for market (Bunyard).
Tree
Erect, strong grower, hardy, good bearer, and profitable for the market, as described by Lindley (quoted by Downing). Growth vigorous and hardy; fertility good; makes a very large tree (Bunyard).
Fruit
Size: Small to below medium or medium; Bunyard gives small to medium, 2½ by 2.
Form: Pyriform, pyramidal, or conical; regular, even.
Stem: Short, stout, generally lipped.
Cavity: Not described in source.
Calyx: Eye open, segments erect.
Basin: Deep.
Skin: Smooth. Pale yellow, tinged with red in the sun or streaked with red next the sun. Bunyard gives the color as pea green to creamy yellow.
Dots: Not described in source.
Flesh and flavor: Juicy, melting, agreeable; tender (Hedrick). Bunyard alone describes the flesh as soft, rather mealy, whitish yellow, with a strong pear flavor. Quality "good" (Downing and Hedrick).
Core and seeds: Not described in source.
Season
August.
Uses
Dessert (Bunyard). Profitable for the market (Lindley, quoted by Downing). Much grown around London for market (Bunyard).
Subtypes / Variants
Not described in source.
Other
Not described in source.
Book Sources
Described in 3 period pomological works
Nursery Catalog Sources
Found in 1 catalog (1849) from Massachusetts
- Hovey & Co. , Cambridge , Massachusetts — 1849
View original book sources (3)
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Lammas. Huntingdon.
An old variety, described by Lindley as an erect, strong grower, hardy, good bearer, and profitable for the market. We do not know of its ever fruiting in this country.
Fruit small, pyriform, pale yellow, tinged with red in the sun. Flesh juicy, melting, agreeable. Good. August.
— E.A. Bunyard, A Handbook of Hardy Fruits (1920)LAMMAS. Dessert. August, small to medium, 2½ by 2, conical, even. Skin, smooth. Colour, pea green to creamy yellow. Flesh, soft, rather mealy, whitish-yellow, strong pear flavour. Eye, open, segments erect, in a deep basin. Stem, short, stout, generally lipped. Growth, vigorous and hardy; fertility good. Origin, undiscovered. This is much grown around London for market and makes a very large tree.
— U.P. Hedrick, The Pears of New York (1921)Lammas.
- Lindley Guide Orch. Gard. 418. 1831. 2. Hogg Fruit Man. 601. 1884.
Originated possibly in the Highlands of Scotland, being recommended for that district by Lindley. Grown also in England. Fruit below medium, pyramidal, regular pale yellow, streaked with red next the sun; flesh melting, tender, juicy, agreeable; good; Aug.