Napoleon Savinien
PearNapoleon Savinien
Origin/History
Obtained in 1854 in the garden of the Society Van Mons at Geest-Saint-Remy, Belgium (Hedrick). Downing describes it as a new French variety resembling Napoleon in appearance but maturing later in the season. First described in Annales de Pomologie Belge 4:71 (1856).
Tree
Not described in source.
Fruit
Size and Form: Medium. Downing describes the form as obovate acute pyriform. Hedrick gives turbinate-ventriculous or pyriform-ventriculous, acute at the top, the apex passing directly into the stalk.
Stem: Short (Downing). Hedrick notes that the top passes into the stalk, consistent with a short, merged stem.
Cavity: Not described in source.
Calyx: Large, open; segments reflexed (Downing).
Basin: Large, uneven (Downing).
Skin: The two sources differ in detail. Downing describes the skin as yellow, partially netted and patched with russet, and thickly sprinkled with russet dots. Hedrick describes it as greenish-yellow, dotted with gray-russet.
Flesh and Flavor: The sources conflict on texture. Downing gives the flesh as whitish, rather coarse, juicy, and half melting, rating it Good. Hedrick describes the flesh as white, semi-fine, melting, juicy, and perfumed, saccharine, with a musky, delicate juice.
Core/Seeds: Not described in source.
Season
Downing gives January. Hedrick gives October to March, and specifically notes that the long period of its ripening is its very valuable quality.
Uses
Not described in source.
Subtypes/Variants
Not described in source.
Other
Not described in source.
Book Sources
Described in 2 period pomological works
View original book sources (2)
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Napoleon Savinien.
This is a new French variety, resembling Napoleon in appearance but maturing later in the season.
Fruit medium, obovate acute pyriform, yellow, partially netted and patched with russet, and thickly sprinkled with russet dots. Stalk short. Calyx large, open. Segments reflexed. Basin large, uneven. Flesh whitish, rather coarse, juicy, half melting. Good. January.
— U.P. Hedrick, The Pears of New York (1921)Napoleon Savinien.
- Ann. Pom. Belge 4:71, fig. 1856. 2. Downing Fr. Trees Am. 819. 1869.
Obtained in the garden of the Society Van Mons at Geest-Saint-Remy, Bel., in 1854. Fruit medium, turbinate-ventriculous or pyriform-ventriculous, acute at the top which passes into the stalk; greenish-yellow, dotted with gray-russet; flesh white, semi-fine, melting, juicy and perfumed, saccharine; juice musky, delicate; Oct. to Mar.; the long period of its ripening is its very valuable quality.