Martha Ann

Pear

Origin/History

A seedling raised by Francis Dana, of Roxbury, Massachusetts. Also known as Dana's No. 1 or Dana's Seedling, No. 1. Referenced in the Magazine of Horticulture 16:547 (1850).

Tree

Not described in sources.

Fruit

Size: Described as medium by Downing (1900) and Thomas (1903); medium or below by Hedrick (1921); but above medium by Elliott (1865).

Form: Described as obovate obtuse pyriform by Downing (1900) and Hedrick (1921); obovate oblong by Elliott (1865); and long obovate by Thomas (1903).

Skin: Downing (1900) and Hedrick (1921) describe the skin as yellowish green, with patches and dots of russet. Elliott (1865) describes the surface as smooth, yellow, with russet specks. Thomas (1903) describes it simply as yellow.

Stem: Not described in sources.

Cavity: Not described in sources.

Calyx: Closed (Elliott, 1865).

Basin: Not described in sources.

Flesh/Flavor: Sources disagree sharply. Downing (1900) and Hedrick (1921) describe the flesh as coarse, juicy, and astringent, rating the variety "poor." In contrast, Elliott (1865) describes the flesh as white, juicy, tender, and sub-acid, rating it "good." Thomas (1903) describes the fruit as juicy, sub-acid, and pleasant.

Core/Seeds: Not described in sources.

Season

October according to Downing (1900) and Hedrick (1921). November according to Thomas (1903).

Uses

Not described in sources.

Book Sources

Described in 4 period pomological works

View original book sources (4)

Martha Ann.

Dana's No. 1.

Raised by Francis Dana, of Roxbury, Mass.

Fruit medium, obovate obtuse pyriform, yellowish green, with patches and dots of russet. Flesh coarse, juicy, astringent. Poor. October.

— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)

Martha Ann.

i. Mag. Hort. 16:547. 1850.

A seedling raised by Francis Dana, Roxbury, Mass. Fruit medium or below, obovate-obtuse-pyriform, yellowish-green, with patches and dots of russet; flesh coarse, juicy, astringent; poor; Oct.

— U.P. Hedrick, The Pears of New York (1921)

Martha Ann. Dana's Seedling, No. 1. American. Fruit, above medium, obovate oblong, smooth, yellow, with russet specks ; calyx, closed ; flesh, white, juicy, tender, sub-acid , " good."

— F.R. Elliott, The Western Fruit Book (1865)

Martha Ann, or Dana's No. 1. Medium, long obovate, yellow; juicy, sub-acid, pleasant. November. Mass.

— John J. Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)

Dana's No Dana's No. 1 Dana's Seedling Dana's Seedling, No. 1 Dana’s No No. 1