Long Green of Autumn
PearLong Green of Autumn
Origin/History
Long Green of Autumn is a variety of very ancient origin. It is mentioned in the catalog published by Le Lectier, King's Attorney, in 1628, of the immense nursery he created in 1598, and is referenced in the German author Henri Manger's 1783 work, where he considered the variety identical with the Vindium of Pliny. Hedrick (1921) notes that it must be distinguished from the Long Green (Longue-Verte), and that it is better known abroad as the Verte-Longue d'Automne or Verte-Longue. The variety was also published in Liegel's Systematische Anleitung in 1825. Downing (1900) states that Long Green of Autumn is said to be even an older variety than Long Green, and that its fruit is later in maturing than that variety. The variety appears in the American literature under several historical names: Downing records the synonyms Verte longue d'Automne, Autumn Mouthwater, Mouille bouche d'Automne, and Coule Soif d'Automne; Thomas (1903) refers to it parenthetically as "Verte Longue d'Automne, or Mouthwater."
Tree
Not described in source.
Fruit
Size and Form
Sources give partially differing accounts of size and form. Downing (1900) describes the fruit as medium, oblong ovate acute pyriform. Hedrick (1921) describes it as medium to large, turbinate, slightly obtuse, often larger on one side than on the other. Thomas (1903) characterizes it as smaller and much more rounded than related varieties, and explicitly notes it as quite distinct on these grounds.
Stem
Downing (1900): stalk long, slender, curved. Thomas (1903) also notes the stem as long.
Cavity
Not described in source.
Calyx
Downing (1900): calyx open; segments almost joined, short, persistent.
Basin
Downing (1900): basin shallow, uneven.
Skin
Downing (1900): smooth, pale green, with occasional patches of russet, and thickly sprinkled with small brown dots. Hedrick (1921): green clouded with pale yellow, speckled with large gray spots and very rarely blushed on the exposed side. Thomas (1903) notes a brown cheek.
Flesh and Flavor
Downing (1900): flesh greenish white, buttery, juicy, half melting; rated Good. Hedrick (1921): flesh white, fine, melting, very full of a saccharine, well-flavored, musky juice; first quality when its juice is well perfumed, but rather variable. Thomas (1903): very juicy and pleasant.
Core and Seeds
Not described in source.
Season
Downing (1900) gives the season as October. Hedrick (1921) likewise gives October. Thomas (1903) states it ripens late in autumn, a month after the Long Green.
Uses
Thomas (1903) describes Long Green of Autumn as profusely productive and valuable.
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)Long Green of Autumn.
Verte longue d'Automne. Autumn Mouthwater. Mouille bouche d'Automne. Coule Soif d'Automne.
The Long Green of Autumn is said to be even an older variety than Long Green. The fruit of this sort is later in maturing.
Fruit medium, oblong ovate acute pyriform, smooth, pale green, with occasional patches of russet, and thickly sprinkled with small brown dots. Stalk long, slender, curved. Calyx open. Segments almost joined, short, persistent. Basin shallow, uneven. Flesh greenish white, buttery, juicy, half melting. Good. October.
— U.P. Hedrick, The Pears of New York (1921)Long Green of Autumn,
- Downing Fr. Trees Am. 804. 1869. Verte-Longue d'Automne.
- Leroy Diet. Pom. 2:729, fig. 1869. Lange grune Herbstbirne.
- Liegel Syst. Anleit. 112. 1825.
The Long Green of Autumn, better known abroad as the Verte-Longue d'Automne or Verte-Longue, must be distinguished from the Long Green or Longue-Verte. It is of very ancient origin and mentioned in the catalog, published by Le Lectier, King's Attorney, in 1628, of the immense nursery he created in 1598. The German author Henri Manger, 1783, considered the Verte-Longue identical with the Vindium of Pliny. Fruit medium to large, turbinate, slightly obtuse, often larger on one side than on the other, green clouded with pale yellow, speckled with large gray spots and very rarely blushed on the exposed side; flesh white, fine, melting, very full of a saccharine, well-flavored, musky juice; first when its juice is well perfumed, but rather variable; Oct.
— John J. Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)Long Green of Autumn (Verte Longue d'Automne, or Mouthwater) is quite distinct, being smaller, much more rounded, stem long, and with a brown cheek; very juicy and pleasant; ripens late in autumn, a month after the preceding. Profusely productive, and valuable.