Musk, Spice
PearMusk, Spice
Origin and History
An excellent and popular pear, also known as Rousselet de Rheims. It is sometimes called "the late Catharine" or "autumn Catharine," referring to its similarity in growth characteristics to the Catharine variety.
Tree
Remarkably vigorous. Grows with long shoots similar to those of the Catharine. Does not bear fruit until the tree reaches a large size, but then becomes very fruitful.
Fruit
Size
Less than medium size.
Form
Oval, slightly produced (elongated) towards the stem.
Stem
Short and thick.
Skin
Greenish yellow ground color with a brilliant cheek towards the sun; the cheek is sometimes red, sometimes brown. Spotted with small dots in every part of the fruit.
Flesh and Flavor
Half-breaking and fine. High and very peculiar musky flavor, whence it derives its name in common use.
Calyx
Blossom end round and even; eye large.
Cavity
Not described in source.
Basin
Not described in source.
Core and Seeds
Not described in source.
Season
Ripens in August and September.
Uses
Eaten in the highest perfection when fully ripe from the tree.
Subtypes and Variants
Not described in source.
Other
Not described in source.
Book Sources
Described in 1 period pomological work
- Coxe, A View of the Cultivation of Fruit Trees (1817) — listed as 19. MUSK, SPICE, OR ROUSSELET DE RHEIMS.
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.