Muscat Robert
PearMuscat Robert
Origin/History
An old pear of unknown origin (Downing). It was mentioned by Le Lectier in 1628 and by la Quintinye in 1690 under the name Pucelle de Saintonge. Its name of Muscat Robert dates from about 1672, and Merlet wrote of it in 1675 as the Amber Pear or Muscat Robert. It has also been widely known as the Amber Pear (Hedrick).
Tree
Very productive (Downing). Not otherwise described in sources.
Fruit
Size: Small — all three sources agree.
Form: Sources differ. Downing describes the fruit as roundish pyriform, inclining to ovate. Hedrick describes it as globular, very round in all its lower part but slightly conic at its other extremity, where it is a little wrinkled.
Stem: Long, sometimes inserted by a lip, and sometimes in a slight cavity (Downing).
Cavity: Sometimes present as a slight depression at stalk insertion (Downing).
Calyx: Large, open (Downing).
Basin: Not described in sources.
Skin: Greenish yellow (Downing, Thomas) to yellowish-green (Hedrick), finely and uniformly dotted with olive-brown; sometimes rather carmined on the cheek exposed to the sun (Hedrick). Downing describes the blush as dull crimson.
Flesh/Flavor: Whitish, semi-fine, breaking or semi-breaking, inclined to rot before ripe, granular, very juicy, sugary, very musky (Hedrick). Downing concurs on breaking texture and juiciness, describing the flavor as sweet, and rates quality as Good. Thomas describes it as juicy and pleasant. Hedrick rates quality as second.
Core/Seeds: Not described in sources.
Season
Mid-July (Hedrick); last of July (Downing); late July (Thomas). Sources are in close agreement, placing ripening across the latter half of July.
Uses
Not described in sources.
Subtypes/Variants
Not described in sources.
Other
Hedrick notes the fruit is inclined to rot before fully ripe — a significant handling characteristic for identification and storage.
Book Sources
Described in 3 period pomological works
View original book sources (3)
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Muscat Robert.
Poire a la Reine. Queen's Amber. D'Ambre. Virgin of Xaintonge. St. Jean Musquee Gros. Muscat d'Ambre. Musk Robine. The Princess. Early Queen. Great Musk Pear of Gone. Queen's Pear. Maiden of Flanders. Beurre a la Reine. Maiden of Xaintonge. Robine. Robert's Muskateller. Muscat Robine.
An old Pear, of unknown origin. Tree very productive. Fruit small, roundish pyriform, inclining to ovate, greenish yellow, with a dull crimson. Stalk long, sometimes inserted by a lip, and sometimes in a slight cavity. Calyx large, open. Flesh breaking, juicy, sweet. Good. Last of July.
— U.P. Hedrick, The Pears of New York (1921)Muscat Robert,
- Duhamel Trait. Arb.Fr. 2:120, Pl. II. 1768.
- Downing Fr. Trees Am. 818. 1869.
This pear was mentioned by Le Lectier in 1628 and by la Quintinye in 1690 under the name of Pucelle de Saintonge. Its name of Muscat Robert dates from about 1672 and Merlet wrote of it in 1675 as the Amber Pear or Muscat Robert. It has also been widely known as the Amber Pear. Fruit small, globular, very round in all its lower part but slightly conic at its other extremity where it is a little wrinkled, yellowish-green, finely and uniformly dotted with olive-brown and sometimes rather carmined on the cheek exposed to the sun; flesh whitish, semi-fine, breaking or semi-breaking, inclined to rot before ripe, granular, very juicy, sugary, very musky; second; mid-July.
— John J. Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)Muscat Robert. Rather small, greenish-yellow; juicy, pleasant. Late July.