Marie Benoist
PearMarie Benoist — Pear
Origin/History
Obtained from seed by Auguste Benoist, Brissac, Maine-et-Loire, France, in 1853.
Tree
Not described in source.
Fruit
Size and Form: Large. Turbinate and very irregular in form, obtuse and mammillate at the summit, globular at the base. Generally much more enlarged on one side than on the other.
Skin: Clear green, dotted and veined with russet. Stained with fawn, especially around the calyx and stem.
Flesh and Flavor: White, fine, and melting, a little gritty. Juice abundant, saccharine, vinous, and delicately perfumed. Quality: first (first class).
Stem and Calyx: Not separately described; staining noted around both.
Core and Seeds: Not described in source.
Season
December to February.
Uses
Not described in source.
Subtypes/Variants
Not described in source.
Sources:
- Leroy, Dict. Pom. 2:397, fig. 1869
- Bunyard, Handb. Hardy Fr. 187. 1920
- Hedrick, U.P. The Pears of New York. 1921.
Book Sources
Described in 1 period pomological work
Nursery Catalog Sources
Found in 7 catalogs (1894–1917) from California, England
- Felix Gillet , Barren Hill Nursery, Nevada City , California — 1894
- Felix Gillet , Barren Hill Nursery, Nevada City , California — 1895
- George Bunyard & Co. , Royal Nurseries, Maidstone, Kent , England — 1900
- James Veitch & Sons , Ltd., Royal Exotic Nursery, Chelsea, London (also Coombe Wood, Langley, and Feltham) , England — 1911
- Thomas Rivers & Son , Sawbridgeworth, Hertfordshire , England — 1913
- George Bunyard & Co. , Royal Nurseries, Maidstone, Kent , England — 1914
- George Bunyard & Co. , Royal Nurseries, Maidstone, Kent , England — 1917
View original book sources (1)
— U.P. Hedrick, The Pears of New York (1921)Marie Benoist.
i. Leroy Diet. Pom. 2:397, fig. 1869. 2. Bunyard Handb. Hardy Fr. 187. 1920.
Obtained from seed by Auguste Benoist, Brissac, Maine-et-Loire, Fr., in 1853. Fruit large, turbinate, very irregular, obtuse and mammillate at the summit, globular at the base and generally much more enlarged on one side than on the other, clear green, dotted and veined with russet, stained with fawn especially around the calyx and stem; flesh white, fine, melting, a little gritty; juice abundant, saccharine, vinous, delicately perfumed; first; Dec. to Feb.