Maréchal Dillen
PearMaréchal Dillen
Origin / History
One of Van Mons' seedlings (Downing). Raised by Van Mons in 1818 and published by him in 1820 (Hedrick). Thomas calls it Belgian. Hedrick cites Leroy, Dict. Pom. 2:391, fig. (1869), and Hogg, Fruit Man. 612 (1884).
Tree
Vigorous and productive (Downing).
Fruit
Size: Large or very large. Thomas gives large; Hedrick gives very large.
Form: Oblong, obtuse pyriform to obtuse-obovate; somewhat obovate and very irregular (Thomas).
Stem: Short.
Cavity: Broad, shallow.
Calyx: Not described in source.
Basin: Not described in source.
Skin: Dull greenish yellow or yellowish green, mottled with fawn and with patches, shades and traces of brown russet; pale green (Thomas).
Dots: Russet, brown-russet.
Flesh and flavor: Flesh white, fine, melting, buttery, juicy. Sweet, rich (Thomas), very saccharine, with "a very agreeable flavor of vinegar and musk" (Hedrick). Quality: "first, an excellent dessert pear" (Hedrick).
Core and seeds: Not described in source.
Season
October and November; November (Thomas).
Uses
Dessert pear (Hedrick).
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)Marechal Dillen.
Dillen d'Automne.
One of Van Mons' seedlings. Tree vigorous and productive.
Fruit large or very large, oblong obtuse pyriform, dull greenish yellow, mottled with fawn, shades and traces and dots of russet. Stalk short, set in a broad shallow cavity. Flesh white, melting, buttery, juicy, sweet. October, November. (An. Pom.)
— John J. Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)Maréchal Dillen. Large, somewhat obovate, very irregular, pale green; buttery, juicy, rich. November. Belgian.
— U.P. Hedrick, The Pears of New York (1921)Maréchal Dillen.
- Leroy Dict. Pom. 2:391, fig. 1869. 2. Hogg Fruit Man. 612. 1884.
Raised by Van Mons in 1818 and was published by him in 1820. Fruit very large, obtuse-obovate, yellowish-green, mottled with patches and dots of brown-russet; flesh white, fine, melting, juicy, very saccharine, having a very agreeable flavor of vinegar and musk; first, an excellent dessert pear; Oct. and Nov.