Madame André Leroy
PearMadame André Leroy
Origin/History
Raised from seed beds by M. André Leroy at Angers, France. First published in 1862 (Hedrick). Cited in Leroy, Dictionnaire de Pomologie 2:372, fig. 1869, and Hogg, Fruit Manual, 608, 1884.
Tree
Moderately vigorous but healthy, with long shoots; productive (Downing). Not further described in Hedrick.
Fruit
Size and Form: Medium to large (Hedrick) or rather large (Downing). Long-conic (Hedrick) or oblong pyriform (Downing); slightly to somewhat obtuse at apex. Irregular, more or less misshapen (Hedrick); inclined or sides unequal (Downing).
Stem: Rather long, set at an inclination in a small cavity, sometimes inserted by a lip (Downing). Not described in Hedrick.
Cavity: Small (Downing). Not described in Hedrick.
Calyx: Closed or half open (Downing). Not described in Hedrick.
Basin: Medium, uneven (Downing). Not described in Hedrick.
Skin: The two sources conflict on color. Downing describes the skin as pale whitish yellow, sometimes with a shade of red on the sun-exposed side, marked with many brown dots. Hedrick describes it as yellowish-green, entirely dotted — especially at the extremities — with small points and slight patches of gray.
Flesh/Flavor: The sources conflict on several points. Downing describes the flesh as whitish yellow, a little coarse, juicy, melting, vinous, and a little astringent; quality rated good to very good. Hedrick describes the flesh as greenish-white, fine or semi-fine, very melting, slightly granular at the center, juicy, sugary, and vinous, with a very delicate flavor; quality rated first.
Core/Seeds: Not described in either source.
Season
End of September (Hedrick); last of September and first of October (Downing).
Uses
Not described in either source.
Subtypes/Variants
Not described in either source.
Other
Not described in either 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)Madame Andre Leroy.
Raised by Andre Leroy, Angers, France. Tree moderately vigorous, but healthy, with long shoots, productive.
Fruit rather large, oblong pyriform, somewhat obtuse, inclined or sides unequal; skin pale whitish yellow, sometimes a shade of red in the sun, and many brown dots; stalk rather long, set at an inclination in a small cavity, sometimes by a lip; calyx closed or half open; basin medium, uneven; flesh whitish yellow, a little coarse, juicy, melting, vinous, a little astringent; good to very good. Last of September and first of October.
— U.P. Hedrick, The Pears of New York (1921)Madame André Leroy.
i. Leroy Diet. Pom. 2:372, fig. 1869. 2. Hogg Fruit Man. 608. 1884.
Obtained from his seed beds by M. André Leroy at Angers, Fr.: first published in 1862.
Fruit medium to large, long-conic, slightly obtuse, irregular, more or less misshapen, yellowish-green, entirely dotted, especially at its extremities, with small points and slight patches of gray; flesh greenish-white, fine or semi-fine, very melting, slightly granular at center, juicy, sugary, vinous, with a very delicate flavor; first; end of Sept.