Maréchal Vaillant
Pear
Maréchal Vaillant
Origin/History
A seedling raised by M. Boisbunel of Rouen, France, gained in 1864. Documented in Leroy, Dict. Pom. 2:393, fig. (1869) and Hogg, Fruit Man. 612 (1884).
Tree
Vigorous, upright, very productive. (Downing)
Not further described in sources.
Fruit
Size and Form: Large (Downing) to very large (Hedrick). Downing describes the form as broad obtuse pyriform; Hedrick describes it as obovate, uneven in outline.
Stem: Rather short, moderately stout, and curved. (Downing)
Cavity: Broad, not very deep. (Downing)
Calyx: Open. (Downing)
Basin: Large, deep, uneven. (Downing)
Skin: Greenish yellow (Downing) / yellowish-green (Hedrick), with a few nettings of russet and many russet and brown dots (Downing); Hedrick characterizes the russet patterning as mottled and dotted.
Flesh and Flavor: Whitish, half fine and melting (Downing) / rather fine and semi-melting (Hedrick). Juice sufficient. Flavor sweet and slightly vinous (Downing); Hedrick adds that it is sugary, richly flavored, and musky. Rated very good (Downing) to excellent (Hedrick).
Core/Seeds: Not described in sources.
Season
Downing gives November–December; Hedrick gives mid-December to end of January. The two accounts partially conflict on the start of the season, with Hedrick's ripening running later.
Uses
Not described in sources.
Subtypes/Variants
Not described in sources.
Other
Not described in sources.
Book Sources
Described in 2 period pomological works
View original book sources (2)
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)MARÉCHAL VAILLANT.
Originated with M. Boisbunel, of Rouen, France. Tree vigorous, upright, very productive.
Fruit large, broad obtuse pyriform; skin greenish yellow, a few nettings of russet and many russet and brown dots; stalk rather short, moderately stout, curved; cavity broad, not very deep; calyx open; basin large, deep, uneven; flesh whitish, half fine, melting, sweet, slightly vinous; very good. November, December.
— U.P. Hedrick, The Pears of New York (1921)Maréchal Vaillant.
- Leroy Dict. Pom. 2:393, fig. 1869. 2. Hogg Fruit Man. 612. 1884.
A seedling of M. Boisbunel of Rouen, Fr., gained in 1864. Fruit very large, obovate, uneven in outline, yellowish-green, mottled and dotted with russet; flesh whitish, rather fine, semi-melting; juice sufficient, sugary, vinous, richly flavored and musky; an excellent pear; mid-Dec. to end of Jan.