Naquette
PearNaquette
Origin/History
Naquette was described by Claude Saint-Étienne in 1670 under this name. After that time it appears to have been classed in the Caillot family with the name Caillot. Later still it received, among other names, those of Bergamot Early (Lindley) and Bergamote Precoce (Calvel). It is figured in Mas, Le Verger 2:109, fig. 53 (1866–73).
A planting was established at the Central Experimental Farm, Agassiz, BC, in spring 1896.
Tree
Described by the Central Experimental Farm as a strong grower. No further tree characteristics described in either source.
Fruit
Size: Hedrick describes the fruit as medium or smaller; the Central Experimental Farm describes it as small.
Form: Hedrick describes the fruit as spherical, flattened at both poles. The Central Experimental Farm describes it as turbinate. These accounts conflict.
Stem, Cavity, Calyx, Basin: Not described in either source.
Skin: Hedrick describes the skin as thin, smooth, grass-green dotted with fawn, when ripe clouded with yellow on the shaded side and washed or streaked with red on the cheek next the sun. The Central Experimental Farm describes the skin as yellow with a few russet dots, without mention of a red blush. The two accounts agree that the ripe fruit is yellow, but differ on the nature of the surface dots (fawn vs. russet) and the Central Experimental Farm does not record the red cheek noted by Hedrick.
Flesh and Flavor: Hedrick describes the flesh as white, rather transparent, fine, melting, full of sugary juice, acidulous, pleasantly perfumed, and very delicate, rating it first quality. The Central Experimental Farm describes the flesh as yellowish, buttery, not very juicy, and of fair quality. These accounts conflict substantially on flesh color (white vs. yellowish), juiciness (full of juice vs. not very juicy), and quality (first vs. fair). The discrepancy may reflect differing growing conditions or tree development stage at the Agassiz planting.
Core/Seeds: Not described in either source.
Season
Hedrick gives the season as mid-August (first). The Central Experimental Farm gives August–September.
Uses
Not described in either source.
Subtypes/Variants
Not described in either source.
Book Sources
Described in 1 period pomological work
Nursery Catalog Sources
Found in 1 catalog (1900)
- Central Experimental Farm , Dominion Department of Agriculture, Agassiz, British Columbia (under test; Bulletin No. 3, Second Series) — 1900
View original book sources (2)
— U.P. Hedrick, The Pears of New York (1921)Naquette.
i. Mas Le Verger 2:109, fig. 53. 1866-73.
Under the name Naquette this pear was described by Claude Saint-Étienne in 1670. After that time it appears to have been classed in the Caillot family with the name Caillot. Later still it received among other names that of Bergamot Early (Lindley) and Bergamote Precoce (Calvel).
Fruit medium or smaller, spherical, flattened at both poles; skin thin, smooth, grass-green dotted with fawn, when ripe clouded with yellow on the shaded side and washed or streaked with red on the cheek next the sun; flesh white, rather transparent, fine, melting, full of sugary juice, acidulous, pleasantly perfumed, very delicate; first; mid-Aug.
— Central Experimental Farm, Central Experimental Farm, Agassiz BC — Catalogue of Fruit Trees under Test (Bulletin No. 3, 1900) (1900)Planted Spring 1896. Tree a strong grower. Fruit small, turbinate. Skin yellow, with a few russet dots. Flesh yellowish, buttery, not very juicy, quality fair. Season August September.