Mignonne d'Hiver
PearMignonne d'Hiver
Origin/History
An old Belgian variety. Referenced in Downing's Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1869).
Tree
Not described in source.
Fruit
Size: Medium, consistent across all sources.
Form: Obovate to oblong-ovate-pyriform (Hedrick); obovate, inclining to pyriform (Elliott); obovate pyriform (Thomas).
Stem: Stout, inserted by a fleshy lip, often at a great inclination (Elliott).
Cavity: Not described in source.
Calyx: Partially closed, set in a small basin (Elliott).
Basin: Small (Elliott).
Skin: Light yellow ground color, mostly covered with thick, rough russet, veined with crimson and fawn (Hedrick). Elliott and Thomas describe the surface as very rough russet, without noting the underlying yellow ground or the crimson and fawn veining.
Flesh and Flavor: Flesh yellowish, granular, juicy. On texture: Hedrick describes it as melting; Elliott as nearly melting. On flavor: Hedrick characterizes it as sweet, vinous, and aromatic, rating it good, without noting astringency. Elliott and Thomas describe it as brisk, sweet, and rich, with Elliott adding slightly astringent and Thomas astringent, neither noting the vinous or aromatic character.
Core/Seeds: Not described in source.
Season
November (Elliott, Thomas). November and December (Hedrick).
Uses
Not described in source beyond Hedrick's quality rating of good.
Subtypes/Variants
Not described in source.
Book Sources
Described in 3 period pomological works
View original book sources (3)
— U.P. Hedrick, The Pears of New York (1921)Mignonne d'Hiver.
i. Downing Fr. Trees Am. 816. 1869.
An old Belgian variety. Fruit medium, obovate to oblong-ovate-pyriform, light yellow, mostly covered with thick, rough russet, and veined with crimson and fawn; flesh yellowish, rather granular, juicy, melting, sweet, vinous, aromatic; good; Nov. and Dec.
— F.R. Elliott, The Western Fruit Book (1865)Mignonne d'Hiver.
Foreign. Fruit, medium, obovate, inclining to pyriform ; skin, very rough, russet ; stalk, stout, inserted by a lip, often at a great inclination ; calyx, partially closed, set in a small basin : flesh, yellowish, juicy, granular, nearly melting, brisk, sweet, and rich, slightly astringent. November.
— John J. Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)Mignonne d'Hiver. Medium, obovate pyriform, rough, russet; granular, rich, brisk, astringent. November. Belgian.