Lamy
Pear
Lamy
Origin / History
Lamy is an old European pear, raised from seed about 1828 by M. Bouvier of Jodoigne, Belgium (Hedrick Pears of New York 1921, Hedrick Cyclopedia 1922, Bunyard 1920). Downing (1900) likewise gives the origin as Belgium in 1828; Elliott (1865) classes it simply as "Foreign." It was first named Beurré Curtet in honor of M. Curtet, a physician and professor at Brussels (Hedrick 1921; Bunyard, who states "The correct name is Beurre Curtet"). The London Horticultural Society first obtained the variety under the name Comte de Lamy, by which name it has best been known in England (Hedrick 1921). Lamy was early introduced to America, where trees have long been found in collections, but it never got out of the limbo of nurserymen's catalogs and collections — it had its probationary period in America many years ago. A few nurserymen still list it (Hedrick 1921, 1922).
On the grounds of the New York Agricultural Experiment Station the pears proved so handsome and so delectable in quality that the variety was judged quite worth growing — a good (splendid) sort for the home orchard, though the tree is not large enough nor robust enough for a commercial plantation (Hedrick 1921, 1922). Bunyard calls it "A most delicious fruit which deserves wider culture and which forms a worthy predecessor to Doyenne du Comice." Hedrick (1921) records earliest American notice in Kenrick's American Orchardist (1841) and Downing's Fruit Trees of America (1845, fig. 158).
Tree
Sources broadly agree the tree is small and spreading. Hedrick (1921) describes it as small, spreading, open-topped, hardy, and productive; Hedrick (1922) describes it as inferior in size, spreading, open-topped, hardy, and productive. Downing (1900) calls the tree vigorous and spreading. Elliott (1865) calls the tree upright; Thomas (1903) describes the shoots as reddish and erect. Bunyard (1920) describes the growth as moderate, a low spreading tree, with fertility good.
Trunk and branches: Trunk slender, shaggy. Branches slender, shaggy, dull brown, overspread with thick scarf-skin (Hedrick 1921), sprinkled with numerous lenticels. Branchlets slender, curved, short, with short internodes, brown changing to reddish-brown on the newer growth, glossy, smooth, glabrous, with small, raised, conspicuous lenticels (Hedrick 1921).
Buds: Leaf-buds small, short, conical, pointed, plump, free. Flower-buds large, thick, long, conical, very plump, free, borne singly as lateral buds or on very short spurs (Hedrick 1921).
Leaves: Leaves 2½ in. long, 1¾ in. wide, leathery; apex taper-pointed; margin finely serrate to nearly entire, tipped with few minute glands; petiole 1¼ in. long, pinkish (Hedrick 1921). Bunyard describes the leaf as flat, with edges undulated, irregularly serrate or entire, turning orange yellow.
Flowers: Flowers late, very showy, 1¼ in. across, borne in dense clusters averaging 9 buds in a cluster; pedicels ¾ in. long, thick, lightly pubescent (Hedrick 1921).
Fruit
Size
Medium (Downing 1900, Elliott 1865); rather small (Thomas 1903); small (Bunyard 1920); medium in size (Hedrick 1921). Hedrick (1921) gives 2⅝ in. long, 2 in. wide; Hedrick (1922) gives 2½ in. long, 2¼ in. wide.
Form
Sources describe the form variously: oblate pyriform (Downing 1900); roundish obovate (Elliott 1865); roundish-obovate, "Bloodgood-shaped" (Thomas 1903); short conical or peg-top, a little uneven, generally lop-sided (Bunyard 1920); obovate-obtuse-pyriform, often irregular and with unequal sides (Hedrick 1921).
Stem
Stalk an inch long, straight, obliquely inserted under a lip, or planted in a slight cavity (Downing 1900). Stem long (Elliott 1865). Stalk an inch long, set under a lip, scarcely sunk (Thomas 1903). Stem ¾ inch, woody, usually inserted by a small bump on the surface (Bunyard 1920). Stem 1¼ in. long, thick (Hedrick 1921); stem ¾ in. long, thick, curved, obtuse (Hedrick 1922).
Cavity
Cavity almost lacking, very obtuse and shallow, narrow, russeted, often lipped (Hedrick 1921); cavity small, obtuse, shallow, narrow, russeted, often lipped (Hedrick 1922). Downing (1900) notes the stalk is either inserted under a lip or planted in a slight cavity; Thomas (1903) says scarcely sunk; Bunyard (1920) says the stem is inserted by a small bump on the surface.
Calyx / Eye
Calyx open, set in a shallow basin (Downing 1900). Calyx small (Elliott 1865). Calyx open; lobes broad, acute (Hedrick 1921, 1922). Eye open, in a wide shallow basin often russeted (Bunyard 1920).
Basin
Basin shallow (Thomas 1903; Downing 1900); wide shallow basin, often russeted (Bunyard 1920); basin rather deep, obtuse or abrupt, gently furrowed, compressed (Hedrick 1921); basin deep, obtuse, gently furrowed, compressed (Hedrick 1922).
Skin
Skin thin, smooth except for the russet dots, dull (Hedrick 1921, 1922). Bunyard (1920) calls the skin smooth. Color yellow, with a brownish red cheek, and sprinkled with patches and small russety dots (Downing 1900); yellow, brownish red cheek, small russet dots (Elliott 1865); yellow, with dots and thin russet (Thomas 1903); pale green changing to yellow and often a little russet, with many small russet dots (Bunyard 1920); color yellow with a solid, dark red blush on the exposed cheek (Hedrick 1921); color pale yellow with a dark red blush on the cheek (Hedrick 1922). Dots numerous, large, brownish-russet, very conspicuous (Hedrick 1921, 1922).
Flesh / Flavor
Flesh white, fine-grained, buttery, melting, sweet (Downing 1900); white, fine-grained, buttery (Elliott 1865); white, very melting, most delicious, quite first class (Bunyard 1920); juicy, melting, refreshing, agreeable (Thomas 1903). Hedrick (1921): flesh tinged with yellow, granular at the center, tender and melting, buttery, juicy, sweet, with a faint, vinous flavor, pleasantly aromatic. Hedrick (1922): flesh tinged with yellow, fine-grained, tender, juicy, sweet. Quality rated "good" by Downing (1900), Elliott (1865), and Hedrick (1922); good to very good by Hedrick (1921).
Core / Seeds
Core large, closed, with clasping core-lines (Hedrick 1921); core small, closed (Hedrick 1922). Calyx-tube short, very wide, conical (Hedrick 1921); calyx-tube wide, conical (Hedrick 1922). Seeds large, wide, plump, acute (Hedrick 1921, 1922).
Season
Ripens in autumn. Downing (1900): last of September to middle of October. Elliott (1865): early October. Thomas (1903): October. Bunyard (1920): October to November. Hedrick (1921): fruit matures in late October and early November. Hedrick (1922): October and early November.
Uses
A dessert pear (Bunyard 1920). A splendid (good) pear for the home orchard, but not suited to commercial plantation because the tree is not large nor robust enough (Hedrick 1921, 1922).
Subtypes / Variants
Not described in source.
Other
Not described in source.
Book Sources
Described in 6 period pomological works
- Hedrick, The Pears of New York (1921)
- Bunyard, A Handbook of Hardy Fruits (1920) — listed as COMTE DE LAMY
- Hedrick, Cyclopedia of Hardy Fruits (1922)
- Downing, Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900) — listed as COMTE DE LAMY
- Elliott, The Western Fruit Book (1865) — listed as Compte de Lamy
- Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903) — listed as Comte de Lamy
View original book sources (6)
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)COMTE DE LAMY.
Beurre Curtet. Beurre Quitelet. Comte Lamay. Dingler. Bis Curtet. Beurre Cutter. Henri Van Mons, erroneously.
Originated in Belgium in 1828. Tree vigorous, spreading.
Fruit of medium size, oblate pyriform. Skin yellow, with a brownish red cheek, and sprinkled with patches and small russety dots. Stalk an inch long, straight, obliquely inserted under a lip, or planted in a slight cavity. Calyx open, set in a shallow basin. Flesh white, fine-grained, buttery, melting, sweet. Good. Last of September to middle of October.
— U.P. Hedrick, The Pears of New York (1921)LAMY
- Ragan Nom. Pear, B. P. I. Bul. 126:161. 1908.
Comte de Lamy. 2. Kenrick Am. Orch. 141. 1841. 3. Downing Fr. Trees Am. 371, fig. 158. 1845. 4. Gard. Chron. 20, fig. 1846. 5. Downing Fr. Trees Am. 727. 1869. 6. Jour. Hort. N. S. 38:359, fig. 52. 1880. 7. Hogg Fruit Man. 553. 1884.
Poire Dingler. 8. Ann. Pom. Belge 2:69, Pl. 1854.
Beurré Curtet. 9. Pom. France 2: No. 77, Pl. 77. 1864. 10. Leroy Dict. Pom. 1:341, figs. 1867. 11. Guide Prat. 65, 243. 1876.
Curtet's Butterbirne. 12. Mathieu Nom. Pom. 200. 1889.
As the history shows, this is an old European pear which had its probationary period in America many years ago, and which never got out of the limbo of nurserymen's catalogs and collections. On the grounds of the New York Agricultural Experiment Station, however, the pears are so handsome and so delectable in quality that the variety seems quite worth while describing and illustrating among the major sorts. It is a splendid pear for the home orchard, but the tree is not large nor robust enough for a commercial plantation. A few nurserymen still list it.
This variety was raised from seed about 1828 by M. Bouvier, Jodoigne, Belgium. It was first named Beurré Curtet in honor of M. Curtet, a physician and professor at Brussels. The London Horticultural Society first obtained the variety under the name Comte de Lamy, by which name it has best been known in England. Lamy was early introduced to America where trees have long been found in collections.
Tree small, spreading, open-topped, hardy, productive; trunk slender, shaggy; branches slender, shaggy, dull brown, overspread with thick scarf-skin, sprinkled with numerous lenticels; branchlets slender, curved, short, with short internodes, brown changing to reddish-brown on the newer growth, glossy, smooth, glabrous, with small, raised, conspicuous lenticels.
Leaf-buds small, short, conical, pointed, plump, free. Leaves 2½ in. long, 1¾ in. wide, leathery; apex taper-pointed; margin finely serrate to nearly entire, tipped with few minute glands; petiole 1¼ in. long, pinkish. Flower-buds large, thick, long, conical, very plump, free, singly as lateral buds or on very short spurs; flowers late, very showy, 1¼ in. across, in dense clusters, average 9 buds in a cluster; pedicels ¾ in. long, thick, lightly pubescent.
Fruit matures in late October and early November; medium in size, 2⅝ in. long, 2 in. wide, obovate-obtuse-pyriform, often irregular and with unequal sides; stem 1¼ in. long, thick; cavity almost lacking, very obtuse and shallow, narrow, russeted, often lipped; calyx open; lobes broad, acute; basin rather deep, obtuse or abrupt, gently furrowed, compressed; skin thin, smooth except for the russet dots, dull; color yellow, with a solid, dark red blush on the exposed cheek; dots numerous, large, brownish-russet, very conspicuous; flesh tinged with yellow, granular at the center, tender and melting, buttery, juicy, sweet, with a faint, vinous flavor, pleasantly aromatic; quality good to very good. Core large, closed, with clasping core-lines; calyx-tube short, very wide, conical; seeds large, wide, plump, acute.
— F.R. Elliott, The Western Fruit Book (1865)COMPTE DE LAMY. Beurré Curte, Marie Louise the Second, Dingler, Marie Louise Nova. Foreign. Tree, upright. Fruit, medium, roundish obovate, yellow, brownish red cheek, small russet dots; stem, long; calyx, small; flesh, white, fine-grained, buttery; "good." Early October.
— John J. Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)Comte de Lamy. Rather small, roundish-obovate (Bloodgood-shaped); yellow, with dots and thin russet; stalk an inch long, set under a lip, scarcely sunk; basin shallow; juicy, melting, refreshing, agreeable. October. Shoots reddish, erect.
— E.A. Bunyard, A Handbook of Hardy Fruits (1920)COMTE DE LAMY. Her. Pom. II., 70. F. Beurre Curtet, G. Curtet's Butterbirne. Dessert, October to November, small, short conical or peg top, a little uneven, generally lop-sided. Skin, smooth. Colour, pale green changing to yellow and often a little russet with many small russet dots. Flesh, white, very melting, most delicious, quite first class. Eye, open in a wide shallow basin often russetted. Stem, ¾ inch, woody, usually inserted by a small bump on the surface. Growth, moderate, low spreading tree; fertility good. Leaf, flat, edges undulated, irregularly serrate or entire, turns orange yellow. Origin, raised by M. Bouvier, of Jodoigne, in 1828, and dedicated to Curtet, professor at Brussels. The correct name is Beurre Curtet. A most delicious fruit which deserves wider culture and which forms a worthy predecessor to Doyenne du Comice.
— U.P. Hedrick, Cyclopedia of Hardy Fruits (1922)LAMY. This is an old European pear which had its probationary period in America many years ago, and which never got out of the limbo of nurserymen's catalogs and collections. On the grounds of the New York Agricultural Experiment Station, however, the pears are so handsome and so delectable in quality that the variety seems quite worth growing. It is a good sort for the home orchard, but the tree is not large enough nor robust enough for a commercial plantation. A few nurserymen still list it.
This variety was raised from seed about 1828 by M. Bouvier, Jodoigne, Belgium.
Tree inferior in size, spreading, open-topped, hardy, productive; trunk slender, shaggy; branches slender, shaggy, dull brown, sprinkled with numerous lenticels.
October and early November; 2½ inches long, 2¼ inches wide; stem ¾ inch long, thick, curved, obtuse; cavity small, obtuse, shallow, narrow, russeted, often lipped; calyx open; lobes broad, acute; basin deep, obtuse, gently furrowed, compressed; skin thin, smooth except for the russet dots, dull; color pale yellow, with a dark red blush on the cheek; dots numerous, large, brownish-russet, very conspicuous; flesh tinged with yellow, fine-grained, tender, juicy, sweet; quality good; core small, closed; calyx-tube wide, conical; seeds large, wide, plump, acute.