Michaux

Pear

Michaux

Origin/History

Origin not entirely clear. R. Manning of Salem, Massachusetts, stated that he had received it from a town in Alsace, France (Hedrick). Also known as the Comte de Michaux (Downing). Listed in the American Pomological Society Report of 1854 (Hedrick).

Tree

Not described in source.

Fruit

Size and Form: Medium in size. Nearly round-pyriform in shape (Downing); Hedrick similarly describes it as nearly globular-pyriform. Thomas describes it simply as round.

Stem: Not described in source.

Cavity: Not described in source.

Calyx: Not described in source.

Basin: Not described in source.

Skin: Light yellowish-green (Downing, Thomas), changing to yellow at maturity (Hedrick). Bears a faint blush on the sunny side (Downing); Hedrick similarly notes a slight blush of red.

Flesh and Flavor: Flesh white, coarse, half-buttery (Downing) — Hedrick uses the term semi-buttery — juicy and sweet. Quality rated second-rate (Downing, Hedrick); Thomas concurs, describing it as of moderate quality. Downing characterizes the variety more bluntly as poor.

Core and Seeds: Not described in source.

Season

September and October (Downing, Hedrick). Thomas specifies early October.

Uses

Not described in source.

Subtypes/Variants

Not described in source.

Book Sources

Described in 3 period pomological works

View original book sources (3)

MICHAUX.

Comte de Michaux.

Fruit of medium size, nearly round pyriform, light yellowish green, with a faint blush on the sunny side. Flesh white, coarse, half buttery, juicy, sweet, but second-rate. Poor. September and October.

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

Michaux.

i. Mag. Hort. 6:45. 1840. 2. Am. Pom. Soc. Rpt. 239. 1854.

Origin not clear but R. Manning, Salem, Mass., stated that he had received it from a town in Alsace, Fr. Fruit medium, nearly globular-pyriform, light yellowish-green changing to yellow, with a slight blush of red; flesh white, coarse, semi-buttery, juicy, sweet; second; Sept. and Oct.

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

Michaux. Medium, round, yellowish-green; sweet, of moderate quality. Early October.

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

Comte de Michaux