Lewis
Pear
Lewis
Origin/History
Lewis is a pear that originated on the farm of John Lewis, Roxbury, Massachusetts, about 1811. It was first recorded in Prince's Pomological Manual (1:140) in 1831, and is cited in Downing's Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (p. 801) in 1869. The variety is noted for bearing enormous crops.
Tree
Growth is vigorous, with long branches that become drooping with age. Downing describes the branch color as olive brown. The tree is profusely productive.
Fruit
Size
Below medium (Hedrick, Thomas); Downing describes it as scarcely of medium size.
Form
Obovate (all three sources agree). Thomas describes it more precisely as regular obovate, rarely obscure pyriform. Hedrick adds that the fruit is globular and obtuse.
Skin
Downing and Hedrick agree: dark green in autumn, turning pale green at maturity, with numerous russet specks. Thomas describes the mature surface as yellowish-green, thickly dotted with dull russet — a somewhat warmer reading of the ground color at maturity than Downing and Hedrick report.
Stem
Long and slender, inserted nearly even with the surface (Downing). Thomas gives the length as approximately an inch and a half, slender, scarcely sunk into the cavity.
Cavity
Nearly flush with the surface; Downing describes it as "inserted nearly even," Thomas as "scarcely sunk."
Calyx
Large, with wide, spreading divisions (Downing). Thomas describes the calyx as widely reflexed.
Basin
Almost level (Downing). Thomas describes it as little or none.
Flesh and Flavor
Yellowish-white (Downing, Hedrick) — Thomas describes it as greenish-white. Downing and Hedrick agree that the flesh is rather coarse-grained; Thomas does not note coarseness and characterizes the flavor as fine and rich. All three sources describe the flesh as melting and juicy with rich flavor. Downing and Hedrick note a slight spicy perfume; Thomas does not mention it. Downing rates the quality as Good.
Core
Large (Thomas). Not described in Downing or Hedrick.
Seeds
Not described in source.
Season
November to February (Downing, Hedrick). Thomas describes it as early winter.
Uses
Not described in source.
Subtypes/Variants
Not described in source.
Other
Not described in source.
Book Sources
Described in 3 period pomological works
View original book sources (3)
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Lewis.
This Pear originated on the farm of John Lewis, of Roxbury, Mass. It bears enormous crops. The tree grows vigorously, and has long, drooping branches of olive brown color.
Fruit scarcely of medium size, obovate, dark green in autumn, pale green at maturity, with numerous russety specks. Stalk long and slender, inserted nearly even with the surface. Calyx large, with white spread divisions. Basin almost level. Flesh yellowish white, rather coarse-grained, melting, juicy, and rich in flavor, with a slight spicy perfume. Good. November to February.
— John J. Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)Fig. 731.
Lewis. Size below medium, regular obovate, rarely obscure pyriform; surface yellowish-green, thickly dotted with dull russet; stalk an inch and a half long, slender, scarcely sunk; calyx widely reflexed, basin little or none; flesh greenish-white, melting, juicy, of fine, rich flavor. Core large. Early winter. Growth vigorous, branches becoming drooping. Profusely productive. Origin, Roxbury, Mass.
— U.P. Hedrick, The Pears of New York (1921)Lewis.
- Prince Pom. Man. 1:140. 1831. 2. Downing Fr. Trees Am. 801. 1869.
Originated on the farm of John Lewis, Roxbury, Mass., about 1811. Fruit below medium, globular, obovate, obtuse, dark green in autumn, pale green at maturity, with numerous russet specks; flesh yellowish-white, rather coarse, melting, juicy and rich in flavor, with a slight spicy perfume; Nov. to Feb.