Mollet Guernsey Beurré
PearMollet Guernsey Beurré
Origin/History
Raised from seed by Charles Mollet of Guernsey, Channel Islands, who died in 1819. Downing characterizes it as an English variety. The variety is also known in historical literature as Mollet's Guernsey Chaumontelle (Downing). First recorded reference: Gardeners' Chronicle 36:85, 1842 (Hedrick).
Tree
Not described in sources.
Fruit
Size and Form: Medium. Downing describes the form as oval pyriform; Hedrick describes it as obovate or somewhat pyramidal.
Stem: Hedrick notes a remarkable fleshy extension of about ½ inch at the insertion of the stalk.
Cavity: Not described in sources.
Calyx: Not described in sources.
Basin: Not described in sources.
Skin: Surface rather uneven. Ground color yellow (Downing: yellow and yellowish green). Much obscured by russet: Downing describes it as dark cinnamon brown russet, nearly covering one side, disposed in stripes and tracings; Hedrick describes it as ferruginous russet, sometimes equally scattered over the surface, but often disposed in broad, longitudinal stripes.
Flesh and Flavor: Flesh yellowish, very melting and buttery (Hedrick adds "very" to melting). Flavor rich — Downing characterizes it as vinous; Hedrick describes it as a rich Chaumontel flavor, though distinct from that variety. Downing rates the variety Good.
Core and Seeds: Not described in sources.
Season
December.
Uses
Not described in sources beyond Downing's quality rating of Good.
Subtypes/Variants
Not described in sources.
Book Sources
Described in 2 period pomological works
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.