Moccas

Origin/History

Raised from seed by Thomas Andrew Knight, Downton Castle, England (Hedrick, Downing). Elliott notes it as "Foreign" (i.e., of European origin).

Tree

Tree of very vigorous, excessively rapid growth (Herefordshire Pomona, Elliott). Productive; blossoms and bears freely, and is hardy (Herefordshire Pomona, Elliott, Downing).

Fruit

Size: Medium.

Form: Most sources describe the fruit as obovate (Herefordshire Pomona, Downing, Thomas). Elliott describes it as obovate roundish. Hedrick differs, describing it as oval, uneven, and bossed in outline.

Stem: Short (Herefordshire Pomona). According to Elliott, long and curved.

Cavity: Not described in source.

Calyx: Eye somewhat open and very slightly sunk (Herefordshire Pomona). Elliott describes the calyx as partly open.

Basin: Not described in source.

Skin: Sources disagree significantly on color. The Herefordshire Pomona describes the skin simply as brown. Downing describes it as green, sprinkled with small dots. Hedrick describes it as lemon-colored, marked with patches and veins of thin pale brown-russet and strewed with russet dots. Elliott describes it as greenish yellow with a brown cheek in the sun and a few russet dots. Thomas describes it as green.

Flesh/Flavor: Flesh yellowish (Hedrick, Elliott) or inclining to yellow (Herefordshire Pomona). Melting (Herefordshire Pomona, Hedrick, Elliott), juicy (all sources), tender and fine (Hedrick).

Sources sharply disagree on quality. The Herefordshire Pomona describes the flesh as "rich and highly flavoured, resembling in this respect the Monarch Pear, and almost equal to that very excellent variety." Hedrick calls it "full of rich vinous juice, musky in flavor; a delicious dessert pear." Elliott rates it "very good." In contrast, Downing rates the quality as "Poor" and states it is "not of good quality." Thomas likewise describes it as "not rich."

Core/Seeds: Not described in source.

Season

December.

Uses

Hedrick specifically identifies it as a dessert pear. The Herefordshire Pomona's description of it as rich and highly flavoured likewise suggests a dessert variety.

Subtypes/Variants

Not described in source.

Other

Hedrick cites two references: Gardeners' Chronicle 717 (1841) and Hogg's Fruit Manual 617 (1884). The Herefordshire Pomona notes its resemblance in flavor to the Monarch Pear.