Leon Gregoire
PearLeon Gregoire
Origin/History
Raised by Xavier Gregoire of Jodoigne, Belgium; first fruited in 1852. Described in the Annals of Pomology Belge (vol. 4, p. 63, with figure, 1856) and in Leroy's Dictionnaire de Pomologie (vol. 2, p. 618, with figure, 1869). Downing notes it as a "new Pear" and quotes its description from the Annals of Pomology.
Tree
Not described in source.
Fruit
Size and Form: Large, sometimes medium (Hedrick). Oblong, obtuse pyriform in form (Downing); Hedrick concurs — oblong-obtuse-pyriform — but notes it is sometimes more or less globular.
Stem: Not described in source.
Cavity: Not described in source.
Calyx: Not described in source.
Basin: Not described in source.
Skin: The two sources describe the coloring somewhat differently. Downing gives the ground color as greenish yellow, marbled, mottled, and shaded with reddish brown, with reddish gray dots. Hedrick describes it as dull yellow, dotted and marbled with fawn on the shaded side and entirely stained with grayish-russet on the exposed face, becoming pale yellow and golden at maturity.
Flesh and Flavor: Yellowish-white (both sources). The two sources conflict on texture: Downing calls the flesh melting and buttery; Hedrick calls it coarse and semi-melting. Both agree it is sweet, vinous, and agreeable. Hedrick additionally characterizes it as watery and acidulous. Hedrick rates quality as second, and notes it is inconstant — sometimes good.
Core and Seeds: Not described in source.
Season
December and January (both sources agree).
Uses
Not described in source.
Subtypes/Variants
Not described in source.
Other
Not described in source.
Book Sources
Described in 2 period pomological works
View original book sources (2)
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Leon Gregoire.
This new Pear is described in the Annals of Pomology as :—
Fruit large, oblong, obtuse pyriform, greenish yellow, marbled, mottled, and shaded with reddish brown, and reddish gray dots. Flesh yellowish white, melting, buttery, sweet, vinous, agreeable. December, January.
— U.P. Hedrick, The Pears of New York (1921)Leon Gregoire.
i. Ann. Pom. Beige 4:63, fig. 1856. 2. Leroy Diet. Pom. 2:618, fig. 1869.
This variety was gained by Xavier Gregoire, Jodoigne, Bel., and was fruited first in 1852. Fruit large, sometimes medium, oblong-obtuse-pyriform, sometimes more or less globular, dull yellow, dotted and marbled with fawn on its shaded side and entirely stained with grayish-russet on the exposed face, becoming pale yellow and golden at maturity; flesh yellowish-white, coarse, semi-melting, sweet, watery, acidulous, vinous, agreeable; second, inconstant in quality, sometimes good; Dec. and Jan.