Madame Baptiste Desportes
PearMadame Baptiste Desportes
Origin/History
A seedling originating in the nurseries of André Leroy at Angers, France, which ripened for the first time in 1863. Referenced in Leroy's Dictionnaire de Pomologie (2:374, fig., 1869) and Hogg's Fruit Manual (608, 1884).
Tree
Moderately vigorous; an abundant bearer. (Hedrick provides no additional tree description.)
Fruit
Size and Form: The two sources differ slightly on size: Downing describes the fruit as medium; Hedrick as above medium. In form, Downing gives roundish oval; Hedrick gives globular-ovate, rather regular, often a little bossed about the base.
Stem: Long, rather stout, inclined (Downing). Not described in Hedrick.
Cavity: Small (Downing). Not described in Hedrick.
Calyx: Open (Downing). Not described in Hedrick.
Basin: Large, deep, slightly corrugated (Downing). Not described in Hedrick.
Skin: The two sources differ in their color descriptions. Downing describes it as pale yellow, sometimes with a shade of brownish red, partially patched and netted with russet, and many russet dots. Hedrick describes it as rather fine, yellow-ochre, mottled, stained, and dotted with gray-russet.
Flesh/Flavor: Downing: white, fine, juicy, melting, sweet, rich, slightly aromatic. Hedrick: fine or semi-fine, melting, excessively juicy, saccharine, vinous, with a very agreeable flavor. Both sources agree on the melting texture and high juice content; Hedrick additionally notes a vinous quality and rates the fruit first quality.
Core/Seeds: Not described in source.
Season
Early October (both sources agree).
Uses
Not described in source.
Subtypes/Variants
Not described in 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 Baptiste Desportes.
Origin, in the nurseries of Andre Leroy, Angers, France; tree moderately vigorous; an abundant bearer.
Fruit medium, roundish oval; skin pale yellow, sometimes a shade of brownish red, partially patched and netted with russet, and many russet dots; stalk long, rather stout, inclined, set in a small cavity; calyx open; basin large, deep, slightly corrugated; flesh white, fine, juicy, melting, sweet, rich, slightly aromatic. October.
— U.P. Hedrick, The Pears of New York (1921)Madame Baptiste Desportes.
- Leroy Dict. Pom. 2:374, fig. 1869.
- Hogg Fruit Man. 608. 1884.
A seedling from the nurseries of André Leroy at Angers, Fr., which ripened for the first time in 1863. Fruit above medium, globular-ovate, rather regular, often a little bossed about the base; skin rather fine, yellow-ochre, mottled, stained, and dotted with gray-russet; flesh fine or semi-fine, melting, excessively juicy, saccharine, vinous, with a very agreeable flavor; first; early Oct.