Las Canas

Origin and History

The Las Canas is one of numerous varieties introduced through the exertions of the late Mr. Manning of Salem. The scions were obtained from M. Emehen de Wael, an amateur cultivator of Antwerp and an intimate friend of Dr. Van Mons, who at that time possessed one of the most extensive collections of pears. M. de Wael visited this country about twelve years ago, and on his return home forwarded to Messrs. Manning and Kenrick scions of many new varieties of pears, of which the Las Canas was among the number. The variety was first described in the Magazine of Horticulture, volume XV, page 197, in 1849.

The variety first fruited in the Pomological Garden about five years before this account, giving promise of great excellence. The experience of successive years has proved it to be a most valuable acquisition. The origin of the Las Canas itself is unknown; it is probably a seedling produced by one of the Belgian amateurs, who are constantly raising new seedlings and to whom we are indebted for so many of our choicest pears.

Tree

The tree is of very upright and regular form while young, with branches which make very acute angles. Its general form is similar to the Williams's Bon Chretien (or Bartlett). The tree is moderately vigorous, upright, with erect annual shoots which ascend at very acute angles. Whether it will succeed well upon the quince has not yet been ascertained; the specimens from which this description was taken were from trees on the pear, and the quince as rootstock had not been tried.

Wood, Buds, Leaves, and Flowers

Wood: Dull yellowish brown, smooth, and speckled with small russet specks, moderately stout, rather short-jointed and blunt at the ends. Old wood is dull brownish olive.

Buds: Medium size, rather long and pointed, flattened, erect, incurved towards the ends, with small shoulders, and partially covered with grayish scales. Flower-buds are medium size and ovate.

Leaves: Small, ovate, dull green, cordate at the base, shortly pointed, slightly wavy, and nearly entire at the edge. Petioles are medium length (about one inch long), rather slender, and growing nearly erect.

Flowers: Medium size, in compact clusters. Petals are little cupped, roundish, with nearly entire edges and short claw.

Fruit

Size and Form: Medium size, about two and a half inches long and one and three quarters inches in diameter. Form is pyramidal and very regular, oblique at the crown. The crown is large and full, and contracting slightly in the middle, it tapers so regularly into the stem that it is scarcely possible to say where it begins or ends.

Stem: Medium length (about three quarters of an inch long), slender, curved, thick at the end attached to the branch, and swollen and fleshy at its junction with the fruit, which is oblique.

Eye, Basin, and Calyx: Eye is small and open, inserted in a small, scarcely perceivable basin. Segments of the calyx are short, very broad, and reflexed.

Skin: Slightly rough, dull yellowish green, very much russeted around the eye extending in patches and tracing towards the stem, mottled with green, and covered with small russet specks.

Flesh and Flavor: Flesh is yellowish white, fine, melting, and very juicy. Flavor is rich and saccharine, with a high and delicious aroma.

Core and Seeds: Core is medium size. Seeds are medium size and nearly black.

Season and Storage

Ripe in October and keeps two or three weeks.

Uses

Not described in source.

Subtypes/Variants

Not described in source.

Other Notable Characteristics

The Las Canas has much of the character of the fine sorts Tyson and Rostiezer, possessing the rich spicy aroma which renders those varieties so popular and generally esteemed. Although only a medium-sized fruit, its many fine qualities, added to its productiveness—bearing its fruit in clusters—vigorous habit, and early bearing, place it among the very best pears.