Little Muscat
Pear
Little Muscat
Origin/History
A French pear, noted by Downing as "well known in many of our gardens." Elliott lists it as "Foreign." It holds its place in cultivation chiefly by virtue of being the earliest of all pears to ripen.
Tree
Not described in source, except that Downing notes the variety is very productive.
Fruit
Size and Form: All three sources agree the fruit is turbinate. On size, Downing describes it as "very small"; Thomas as "quite small"; Elliott as "small."
Skin: Downing and Elliott agree on a yellow ground with a dull red cheek. Thomas describes the cheek as brownish rather than dull red.
Flesh and Flavor: Described by Downing and Thomas as breaking in texture, sweet, with a slight musk flavor. Elliott does not describe the flesh.
Quality: Downing rates it "Good"; Thomas rates it "Tolerably good."
Season
Downing places ripening at the beginning of July. Thomas gives the middle of July. Elliott gives simply "July."
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)Little Muscat.
Little Musk. Primitive. Sept-en-gueule. Petit Muscat. Muscat Petit. Chiot.
This very little French Pear, well known in many of our gardens, is allowed a place there, chiefly because it is the earliest of all Pears, ripening at the beginning of July.
Fruit very small, turbinate, yellow, with a dull red cheek. Flesh breaking, sweet, with a slight musk flavor. Good. Very productive.
— F.R. Elliott, The Western Fruit Book (1865)Little Muscat. Little Musk, | Petit Muscat, Primitive, | Muscat Petit. Foreign. Small, turbinate, yellow, dull red cheek. July.
— John J. Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)Little Muscat. Quite small, turbinate, yellow with brownish cheek; breaking, sweet, slightly musky. Middle of July. French. Tolerably good.