Musk, Spice
PearMusk, Spice
Origin / History
William Coxe described the variety in A View of the Cultivation of Fruit Trees (1817), where it is listed as "Musk, Spice, or Rousselet de Rheims." Coxe calls it an "excellent and popular pear." The musky flavor gives the variety its name in common use. The tree is often called the late Catharine, or autumn Catharine.
Tree
The tree is remarkably vigorous and grows with long shoots, similar to those of the Catharine. It does not bear until large, after which it is very fruitful.
Fruit
Size: Less than medium.
Form: Oval, a little produced toward the stem.
Stem: Short and thick.
Cavity: Not described in source.
Calyx: Eye large. Blossom end round and even.
Basin: Not described in source.
Skin: Ground color a greenish yellow, with a brilliant cheek toward the sun, sometimes red, sometimes brown.
Dots: Spotted with small dots in every part.
Flesh and flavor: Half breaking and fine, with a high and very peculiar musky flavor. Quality is high. The fruit is eaten in highest perfection when fully ripe from the tree.
Core and seeds: Not described in source.
Season
Ripens in August and September.
Uses
Eaten in highest perfection when fully ripe from the tree, as a fresh dessert pear.
Subtypes / 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.