Mollet Guernsey Beurré
PearMollet Guernsey Beurré
Origin/History
Mollet Guernsey Beurré is an English variety raised from seed by Charles Mollet, Esq., of the Island of Guernsey, Channel Islands, who died in 1819. The variety was first recorded in the Gardener's Chronicle 36:85 in 1842. Downing also lists "Mollet's Guernsey Chaumontelle" as an alternate name associated with this variety.
Tree
Not described in source.
Fruit
Size and Form
Fruit of medium size. Downing describes the shape as oval pyriform. Hedrick describes it as obovate or somewhat pyramidal. A remarkable fleshy extension of approximately ½ inch occurs at the insertion of the stalk (Hedrick). The surface of the fruit is uneven.
Stem
A fleshy extension of about ½ inch is present at the insertion of the stalk (Hedrick).
Cavity
Not described in source.
Calyx
Not described in source.
Basin
Not described in source.
Skin
The skin is rather uneven (Downing). The ground color is yellow and yellowish green (Downing), or yellow (Hedrick), but much of the surface is obscured by russet. Downing describes this russet as dark cinnamon brown, appearing in stripes and tracings, and covering nearly one side of the fruit. Hedrick describes the russet as ferruginous (iron-rust colored), sometimes equally scattered over the surface, but often disposed in broad, longitudinal stripes.
Flesh and Flavor
The flesh is yellowish, very melting, and buttery. The flavor is rich and vinous (Downing), described by Hedrick as having a rich Chaumontel flavor, though distinct from that variety. Downing rates the fruit as Good.
Core and Seeds
Not described in source.
Season
December.
Uses
Not described in source.
Subtypes/Variants
Not described in source.
Other
Not described in source.
Book Sources
Described in 2 period pomological works
- Hedrick, The Pears of New York (1921)
- Downing, Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900) — listed as Mollet's Guernsey Beurre
View original book sources (2)
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Mollet's Guernsey Beurre.
Mollet's Guernsey Chaumontelle.
An English variety, raised by Charles Mollet, Esq., of the Island of Guernsey.
Fruit of medium size, oval pyriform. Skin rather uneven, yellow and yellowish green, nearly covered on one side with dark cinnamon brown russet, in stripes and tracings. Flesh yellowish, melting, and buttery, with a rich vinous flavor. Good. December.
— U.P. Hedrick, The Pears of New York (1921)Mollet Guernsey Beurré.
- Gard. Chron. 36, 85. 1842.
Raised from seed by Charles Mollet of Guernsey, Channel Islands, who died in 1819. Fruit medium, obovate or somewhat pyramidal, with a remarkable fleshy extension of about ½ inch at the insertion of the stalk, surface of the pear uneven, yellow, but much obscured with ferruginous russet, sometimes equally scattered, but often disposed in broad, longitudinal stripes; flesh yellowish, very melting, buttery, with a rich Chaumontel flavor though distinct; Dec.