Ne Plus Meuris
PearNe Plus Meuris
Origin/History
A Belgian pear, one of Dr. Van Mons' seedlings, named in allusion to Pierre Meuris, his gardener at Brussels.
Tree
Grows upright, with short-jointed, olive-colored shoots. Bears in thick bunches or clusters. (Bearing habit per Elliott; Downing does not mention it.)
Fruit
Size and Form: Medium, or rather small; roundish, usually very irregular, with swollen parts on the surface. Elliott characterizes it as "unprepossessing looking" and "uneven."
Stem: Quite short, set without depression, in a small cavity.
Cavity: Small (noted in relation to stem placement).
Calyx: Not described in source.
Basin: Not described in source.
Skin: Dull yellowish brown, partially covered with iron-colored russet. Elliott specifically notes the skin is rough.
Flesh and Flavor: Yellowish white, buttery, with a sugary and agreeable flavor. Elliott adds "melting" to the flesh texture, and rates the flavor "very agreeable," further describing the fruit overall as being "of very fine flavor." Downing rates the variety "Good."
Core/Seeds: Not described in source.
Season
January to March.
Uses
Not described in source.
Subtypes/Variants
Not described in source.
Other
Thomas (1903) provides only a condensed entry consistent with the above: "Rather small, roundish, irregular, dull yellowish-brown, partly russeted; agreeable. Winter. Belgian."
Book Sources
Described in 3 period pomological works
Nursery Catalog Sources
Found in 5 catalogs (1900–1917) from England
- George Bunyard & Co. , Royal Nurseries, Maidstone, Kent , England — 1900
- James Veitch & Sons , Ltd., Royal Exotic Nursery, Chelsea, London (also Coombe Wood, Langley, and Feltham) , England — 1911
- Thomas Rivers & Son , Sawbridgeworth, Hertfordshire , England — 1913
- George Bunyard & Co. , Royal Nurseries, Maidstone, Kent , England — 1914
- George Bunyard & Co. , Royal Nurseries, Maidstone, Kent , England — 1917
View original book sources (3)
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Ne Plus Meuris.
This is a Belgian Pear, one of Dr. Van Mons' seedlings, named in allusion to Pierre Meuris, his gardener at Brussels. The tree grows upright, has short-jointed, olive-colored shoots.
Fruit medium or rather small, roundish, usually very irregular, with swollen parts on the surface, dull yellowish brown, partially covered with iron-colored russet. Stalk quite short, set without depression, in a small cavity. Flesh yellowish white, buttery, with a sugary and agreeable flavor. Good. January to March.
— F.R. Elliott, The Western Fruit Book (1865)Ne Plus Meuris.
Belgian. An unprepossessing looking, uneven, dull russet fruit, of very fine flavor. The tree grows upright, has short-jointed, olive-colored shoots and bears in thick bunches or clusters.
Fruit, medium, or rather small, roundish, usually very irregular, with swollen parts on the surface; skin, rough, dull yellowish brown, partially covered with iron-colored russet; stalk, quite short, set without depression, in a small cavity; flesh, yellowish white, buttery, melting, with a sugary and very agreeable flavor. January to March.
— John J. Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)Ne Plus Meuris. Rather small, roundish, irregular, dull yellowish-brown, partly russeted; agreeable. Winter. Belgian.