Musk
Pear
Musk Pear
Origin and History
This excellent and popular pear is also known as Spice or Rousselet de Rheims. The common name "Musk" derives from the fruit's distinctive musky flavor. It is often compared to the Catharine pear and sometimes called the "late Catharine" or "autumn Catharine" due to similar growth habit.
Tree
Remarkably vigorous. Grows with long shoots similar to the Catharine variety. Does not bear until the tree reaches considerable size, but is then very fruitful.
Fruit
Size and form: Less than medium size. Form is oval, slightly produced towards the stem.
Stem: Short and thick.
Calyx and basin: The blossom end is round and even. The eye is large.
Skin: Greenish yellow. Bears a brilliant cheek towards the sun, which may be sometimes red or sometimes brown. Spotted with small dots throughout.
Flesh and flavor: Half breaking and fine texture. High and very peculiar musky flavor, from which the variety derives its common name.
Core and seeds: Not described in source.
Season
Ripening time is August and September. Eaten in the highest perfection when fully ripe from the tree.
Uses
Not described in source.
Subtypes and Variants
Not described in source.
Other
Not described in source.
Book Sources
Described in 1 period pomological work
View original book sources (1)
— William Coxe, A View of the Cultivation of Fruit Trees (1817)
- MUSK, SPICE, OR ROUSSELET DE RHEIMS.
This excellent and popular pear, is less than the medium size — the form is oval, a little produced towards the stem, which is short and thick, the blossom end round and even ; the eye large ; the skin a greenish yellow, with a brilliant cheek towards the Sun, sometimes red, sometimes brown, spotted with small dots in every part ; the flesh is half breaking, fine, and of a high and very peculiar musky flavour, whence it derives its name in common use.
The tree is remarkably vigorous, grows with long shoots like the Catharine, from which it is often called the late Catharine, or autumn Catharine ; it does not bear till large, it is then very fruitful ; the time of ripening in August and September ; it is eaten in the highest perfection when fully ripe from the tree.