NEC PLUS MEURIS
PearNEC PLUS MEURIS
Origin / History
NEC PLUS MEURIS is a Belgian pear (Elliott; Thomas). Downing identifies it as one of Dr. Van Mons' seedlings, named in allusion to Pierre Meuris, his gardener at Brussels. Bunyard and Hedrick dispute this attribution: both state that this pear is not the Nec Plus Meuris of France (or of Van Mons), which is in fact the Beurré d'Anjou. Bunyard notes that the figure in the Herefordshire Pomona is correct but the origin given there is wrong, and adds that he has not been able to find the correct name of this variety, judging it "very probably French or Belgian." Hedrick concurs that the origin is uncertain.
Tree
The tree grows upright (Elliott, Downing, Bunyard) and has short-jointed, olive-colored shoots (Elliott, Downing). It bears in thick bunches or clusters (Elliott). Fertility is excellent (Bunyard).
Fruit
Size: Medium, or rather small (Elliott, Downing); rather small (Thomas); small (Bunyard, Hedrick). Bunyard gives dimensions of 2 by 2.
Form: Roundish (Elliott, Downing, Thomas); round-oval (Bunyard, Hedrick). Usually very irregular, with swollen parts on the surface (Elliott, Downing); very uneven (Bunyard); irregular (Thomas); uneven (Hedrick).
Stem / Stalk: Quite short, set without depression, in a small cavity (Elliott, Downing). Bunyard describes the stem as very short and stout, continued [continuous with the fruit]; Hedrick likewise gives it as very short, stout, continuous with the fruit.
Cavity: Small, with the stalk set without depression (Elliott, Downing). Bunyard and Hedrick describe the stem as continuous with the fruit (implying no distinct cavity).
Calyx / Eye and Basin: Bunyard describes the eye as large, open, in a small basin; Hedrick gives the calyx as large, open, in a small basin. Not described by Elliott, Downing, or Thomas.
Skin: Rough (Elliott); a little rough (Bunyard). Dull yellowish brown, partially covered with iron-colored russet (Elliott, Downing); dull yellowish-brown, partly russeted (Thomas); greenish yellow nearly covered with brown russet and occasionally with a slight brown-red flush (Bunyard); greenish-yellow, nearly covered with rough brown-russet (Hedrick). Elliott characterizes the overall appearance as "unprepossessing looking, uneven, dull russet."
Flesh / Flavor: Yellowish white, buttery, melting, with a sugary and very agreeable flavor (Elliott); yellowish white, buttery, with a sugary and agreeable flavor (Downing); agreeable (Thomas); pale yellow, melting and deliciously perfumed (Bunyard); pale, yellow, melting, deliciously perfumed (Hedrick). Downing rates the quality as "Good"; Elliott calls the flavor "very fine."
Core / Seeds: Not described in source.
Season
January to March (Elliott, Downing); Winter (Thomas); Dessert February to March (Bunyard); February and March (Hedrick).
Uses
Dessert (Bunyard).
Subtypes / Variants
Not described in source.
Other
Bunyard references the Herefordshire Pomona, vol. II, p. 68, as containing a correct figure of this variety (though with an incorrect origin attribution). Hedrick cites Hogg's Fruit Manual (1884), p. 622, and Bunyard's Handbook of Hardy Fruits (1920), p. 189, as references.
Book Sources
Described in 5 period pomological works
- Bunyard, A Handbook of Hardy Fruits (1920)
- Downing, Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900) — listed as Ne Plus Meuris
- Elliott, The Western Fruit Book (1865) — listed as Ne Plus Meuris
- Hedrick, The Pears of New York (1921) — listed as Nee Plus Meuris
- Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903) — listed as Ne Plus Meuris
View original book sources (5)
— 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.
— 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.
— John J. Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)Ne Plus Meuris. Rather small, roundish, irregular, dull yellowish-brown, partly russeted; agreeable. Winter. Belgian.
— E.A. Bunyard, A Handbook of Hardy Fruits (1920)NEC PLUS MEURIS. Her. Pom., II., 68. Dessert February to March, small, 2 by 2, round oval, very uneven. Skin, a little rough. Colour, greenish yellow nearly covered with brown russet and occasionally with a slight brown-red flush. Flesh, pale yellow, melting and deliciously perfumed. Eye, large open in a small basin. Stem, very short and stout, continued. Growth, upright ; fertility excellent. Origin, this pear is not the Nec Plus Meuris of France, or Van Mons, which is our Beurré d'Anjou. The figure in the Herefordshire Pomona is correct but the origin given is wrong. I have not been able to find the correct name of this variety, and it is very probably French or Belgian.
— U.P. Hedrick, The Pears of New York (1921)Nee Plus Meuris.
- Hogg Fruit Man. 622. 1884.
- Bunyard Handb. Hardy Fr. 189. 1920.
This is not the Nee Plus Meuris of France which is our Beurré d'Anjou. The origin is uncertain. Fruit small, round-oval, uneven, greenish-yellow, nearly covered with rough brown-russet; stem very short, stout, continuous with the fruit; calyx large, open, in a small basin; flesh pale, yellow, melting, deliciously perfumed; Feb. and Mar.
[Additional entry in this volume: "NEC PLUS MEURIS", pp. 661–661]
Nee Plus Meuris. i. Hogg Fruit Man. 622. 1884. 2. Bunyard Handb. Hardy Fr. 189. 1920. This is not the Nee Plus Meuris of France which is our Beurré d'Anjou. The origin is uncertain. Fruit small, round-oval, uneven, greenish-yellow, nearly covered with rough brown-russet; stem very short, stout, continuous with the fruit; calyx large, open, in a small basin; flesh pale, yellow, melting, deliciously perfumed; Feb. and Mar.