Milan de Rouen
PearMilan de Rouen
Origin/History
Raised by M. Boisbunel of Rouen, France; distributed in 1859 (Hedrick). Downing classes it as a Flemish Pear. Referenced in Leroy, Dict. Pom. 2:425, fig. 1869, and Hogg, Fruit Man. 617, 1884 (Hedrick). Downing characterizes it as little known and not of much value.
Tree
Not described in source.
Fruit
Size: Medium (both sources agree).
Form: Downing describes the fruit as roundish. Hedrick gives a more detailed account: globular, a little conic toward the summit, slightly bossed, and one side less swelled than the other.
Stem: Not described in source.
Cavity: Not described in source.
Calyx: Not described in source.
Basin: Not described in source.
Skin: The two sources differ in their accounts. Downing describes the skin as greenish yellow, with nettings, patches, and dots of russet. Hedrick describes it as thick, dull yellow, dotted and streaked with fawn, much stained with gray around the stem.
Flesh/Flavor: The sources partially disagree. Downing describes the flesh as white, coarse, juicy, melting, and vinous. Hedrick describes it as yellowish, semi-fine, and semi-melting, juicy, and rather granular at the core, with a sugary character; the juice is aromatic, but often spoiled by an unpleasant acerbity. Hedrick rates the variety second quality.
Core/Seeds: Not described in source.
Season
The sources disagree slightly on ripening time. Hedrick places it at the end of August; Downing gives September.
Uses
Not described in source.
Subtypes/Variants
Not described in source.
Other
Not described in source.
Book Sources
Described in 2 period pomological works
View original book sources (2)
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Milan de Rouen.
A Flemish Pear, little known and not of much value.
Fruit medium, roundish, greenish yellow, with nettings, patches, and dots of russet. Flesh white, coarse, juicy, melting, vinous. September.
— U.P. Hedrick, The Pears of New York (1921)Milan de Rouen.
- Leroy Dict. Pom. 2:425, fig. 1869. 2. Hogg Fruit Man. 617. 1884.
Gained by M. Boisbunel, Rouen, Fr.; distributed in 1859. Fruit medium, globular, a little conic toward the summit, slightly bossed and one side less swelled than the other; skin thick, dull yellow, dotted and streaked with fawn, much stained with gray around the stem; flesh yellowish, semi-fine, and semi-melting, juicy, rather granular at the core, sugary; juice aromatic, often spoiled by an unpleasant acerbity; second; end of Aug.