Locke
PearLocke Pear
Origin/History
A native American variety, raised from seed in the garden of James Locke, West Cambridge, Massachusetts, in 1830 (Hedrick). First recorded in Magazine of Horticulture 3:52, 1837, and subsequently listed in Downing's Fruits and Fruit Trees of America, 1845. Downing and Elliott record the alternate name Locke's New Beurré.
Tree
Not described in sources.
Fruit
Size and Form: Medium in size. Downing and Elliott describe the form as roundish obovate; Hedrick gives it as globular-obovate, full at the crown, ending obtusely at the stem.
Stem: Medium (Elliott). Not described in Downing or Hedrick.
Cavity: Not described in sources.
Calyx: Small, half closed (Elliott). Not described in Downing or Hedrick.
Basin: Not described in sources.
Skin: Fair in appearance, slightly rough in texture (Hedrick). Color: Downing describes it as dull yellowish green; Hedrick as yellowish-green changing to lemon-yellow when ripe; Elliott as yellowish green. All three sources agree on the presence of spots of darker green mingled with russet. Hedrick adds that the sunny side is tinged with red, a detail not mentioned by the other sources.
Flesh and Flavor: Downing and Elliott describe the flesh as greenish white; Hedrick as yellowish-white. All sources agree it is melting and juicy. Hedrick notes the texture is coarse. On flavor, Downing describes a sprightly vinous character; Elliott similarly notes a vinous flavor; Hedrick characterizes it as rich, sweet, and perfumed — a somewhat different emphasis. Quality rated as Good by all sources.
Core and Seeds: Not described in sources.
Season
November and December (Downing, Elliott). December (Hedrick).
Uses
Not described in sources.
Subtypes/Variants
Not described in sources.
Book Sources
Described in 3 period pomological works
View original book sources (3)
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Locke.
Locke's New Beurré.
This is a native fruit, originated by James Locke, West Cambridge, Mass.
Fruit medium, roundish obovate, dull yellowish green, slightly mottled with spots of darker green and bits of russet. Flesh greenish white, melting, and juicy, with a sprightly vinous flavor. Good. November and December.
— U.P. Hedrick, The Pears of New York (1921)Locke.
- Mag. Hort. 3:52. 1837.
- Downing Fr. Trees Am. 442. 1845.
Raised from seed in the garden of James Locke, West Cambridge, Mass., in 1830. Fruit medium, globular-obovate, full at the crown, ending obtusely at the stem; skin fair, slightly rough, yellowish-green changing to lemon-yellow when ripe, spots of darker hue mingled with russet, tinged with red on the sunny side; flesh yellowish-white, coarse, melting and juicy, rich, sweet and perfumed; good; Dec.
— F.R. Elliott, The Western Fruit Book (1865)Locke.
Locke's New Beurré.
American. From West Cambridge, Mass. Fruit, medium, roundish obovate, yellowish green, spotted with shades of darker green and russet ; stem, medium ; calyx, small, half closed ; flesh, greenish white, juicy, vinous ; "good." November and December.