McVean

Pear

McVean

Origin/History

Originated in Monroe County, New York, about 1850 or earlier. The variety is recorded in the Horticulturist (9:340, 1854) and in Downing's Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (807, 1869).

Tree

Very vigorous, very productive. Young wood grayish light yellow brown.

Fruit

Size and Form: Large, obovate-acute-pyriform (Downing; Hedrick). Thomas describes the form as obovate pyriform without the "acute" qualification.

Stem: Short, rather stout, fleshy at insertion, often set inclined and with a lip.

Cavity: Not described in source.

Calyx: Partially closed.

Basin: Slightly corrugated.

Skin: Yellow, with nettings and patches of russet, and numerous green and brown dots.

Flesh/Flavor: Downing and Hedrick agree: flesh coarse, not juicy, not melting, sweet; quality rated good. Thomas conflicts, describing the fruit as juicy and astringent.

Core/Seeds: Not described in source.

Season

September (Downing; Hedrick). Thomas gives October.

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)

McVean.

Origin, Monroe Co., N. Y. Tree very vigorous, very productive. Young wood grayish light yellow brown.

Fruit large, obovate acute pyriform, yellow, with nettings and patches of russet, and numerous green and brown dots. Stalk short, rather stout, fleshy at insertion, and often set inclined, and with a lip. Calyx partially closed. Basin slightly corrugated. Flesh coarse, not juicy, or melting, sweet. Good. September.

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

McVean.

i. Horticulturist 9:340. 1854. 2. Downing Fr. Trees Am. 807. 1869.

Originated in Monroe County, N. Y., about 1850 or earlier.

Fruit large, obovate-acute-pyriform, yellow, with nettings and patches of russet, and numerous green and brown dots; flesh coarse, not juicy, or melting, sweet; good; Sept.

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

McVean. Large, obovate pyriform, yellow; juicy, astringent. October. Monroe Co., N. Y.

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