Niles
PearOrigin/History
The Niles pear was imported from France about 1850 by the Hon. John M. Niles, Hartford, Connecticut, without a name. The original name having been lost, it was consequently designated "Niles." Hedrick (1921) notes that 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 than that variety. Downing (1900) notes it had not yet been formally identified with any known European variety.
Tree
Young wood whitish gray (Downing). No further tree characteristics described in either source.
Fruit
Size and Form: Large, obtuse pyriform.
Stem: Long.
Cavity: Deep, abrupt, and uneven.
Calyx: Closed.
Basin: Deep and round.
Skin: Yellow at maturity, thickly covered with russet dots.
Flesh and Flavor: Juicy, buttery, sweet, and pleasant.
Core/Seeds: Not described in source.
Season
December.
Uses
Not described in source.
Subtypes/Variants
Not described in source.
Other
Downing cites the source as Ad. Int. Rep. Hedrick cites Mag. Hort. 20:76 (1854) and Downing's Fr. Trees Am. 821 (1869) as prior references.
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.