Niles
PearNiles
Origin / History
A foreign variety, imported by John M. Niles, Hartford, Conn. Hedrick (1921) gives the importation as from France about 1850, by the Hon. J. M. Niles, without a name; it was consequently designated "Niles." Downing (1900), citing "Ad. Int. Rep.", says the original name having been lost, it has not yet been identified. Some pomologists have considered it the Easter Beurré; Hedrick says it appears to be more oblong in form, more yellow in color, to have a longer stem and to be earlier in time of maturity. Hedrick cites Mag. Hort. 20:76 (1854) and Downing's Fruits and Fruit Trees of America, p. 821 (1869).
Tree
Young wood whitish gray.
Fruit
Size: Large.
Form: Obtuse pyriform.
Stem: Long.
Cavity: Deep, abrupt, uneven.
Calyx: Closed.
Basin: Deep, round.
Skin: Yellow at maturity.
Dots: Russet, thickly covering the surface.
Flesh and flavor: Juicy, buttery, sweet, and pleasant.
Core and seeds: Not described in source.
Season
December.
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)NILES ?
A foreign variety, imported by John M. Niles, Hartford, Conn. The original name having been lost, it has not yet been identified. Young wood whitish gray.
Fruit large, obtuse pyriform. Color yellow at maturity, thickly covered with russet dots. Stalk long, inserted in a deep, abrupt, uneven cavity. Calyx closed, set in a deep round basin. Flesh juicy, buttery, sweet, and pleasant. December. (Ad. Int. Rep.)
— U.P. Hedrick, The Pears of New York (1921)Niles.
- Mag. Hort. 20:76. 1854.
- Downing Fr. Trees Am. 821. 1869.
This variety was imported from France about 1850 by the Hon. J. M. Niles, Hartford, Conn., without a name. It was consequently designated "Niles." Some pomologists have considered it to be the Easter Beurré, but it appears to be more oblong in form, more yellow in color, to have a longer stem and to be earlier in time of maturity. Fruit large, obtuse-pyriform, yellow thickly covered with russet dots; flesh juicy, buttery, sweet and pleasant; Dec.