Marie Louise Nova
PearMarie Louise Nova
Origin/History
Sent by Van Mons to Mr. Manning. Of Belgian origin (Thomas). Though in some seasons a very good fruit, it will by no means bear a comparison with the Marie Louise (Downing). Cited in Downing's Fruits and Fruit Trees of America in both the 1845 and 1869 editions (Hedrick).
Tree
The wood is very strong and dark colored (Downing). Other tree characteristics not described in source.
Fruit
Size and Form: Downing and Hedrick describe the fruit as medium in size, regular acute pyriform in form. Thomas describes it as rather large, pyriform — a conflict on size with the other two sources.
Stem, Cavity, Calyx, Basin: Not described in source.
Skin: Yellow, with a brownish-red cheek (Downing, Hedrick). Thomas describes the cheek as brown rather than brownish-red.
Flesh/Flavor: Flesh at first melting and juicy, but quickly decays (Downing, Hedrick; Thomas concurs on the melting character and rapid decay). Quality rated good (Downing, Hedrick); Thomas qualifies this as sometimes good.
Core/Seeds: Not described in source.
Season
Last of September (Downing); end of September (Hedrick); September (Thomas).
Uses
Not described in source.
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)Marie Louise Nova.
This variety was sent by Van Mons to Mr. Manning. It will by no means bear a comparison with the Marie Louise, though in some seasons a very good fruit. The wood is very strong and dark colored.
Fruit medium, regular acute pyriform, yellow, with a brownish-red cheek. Flesh at first melting, juicy, but quickly decays. Good. Last of September.
— U.P. Hedrick, The Pears of New York (1921)Marie Louise Nova.
x. Downing Fr. Trees Am. 400. 1845. 2. Ibid. 813. 1869.
Sent by Van Mons to Mr. Manning, and though in some seasons very good, it cannot compare with Marie Louise. Fruit medium, regular-acute-pyriform, yellow, with a brownish-red cheek; flesh at first melting, juicy, but quickly decays; good; end of Sept.
— John J. Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)Marie Louise Nova. Rather large, pyriform, yellow, with a brown cheek; melting; sometimes good, quickly decays. September. Belgian.