Nouvelle Fulvie
PearNouvelle Fulvie
Origin/History
A Belgian pear, a gain of M. Grégoire of Jodoigne, Belgium. First reported in 1854. Described in the Annals of Belgian Pomology (Ann. Pom. Belge 4:59, fig., 1857). Also referenced in Bunyard's Handbook of Hardy Fruits (1920) and Leroy's Dictionnaire de Pomologie (1:203, fig., 1867), the latter under the name Belle de Jarnac.
Tree
Not described in sources.
Fruit
Size: The Annals of Pomology describes the fruit as very large; Hedrick similarly gives large or very large. Downing notes, however, that as he received and fruited this pear it was only of medium size.
Form: The Annals description calls it pyriform with an uneven surface; Hedrick describes it as pyramidal-pyriform and strongly bossed. Downing's own fruited specimens were roundish and only slightly pyriform — a notable departure from the Annals account.
Stem: Stout, inserted as it were by a neck (Downing).
Cavity: Not described in sources.
Calyx: Large (Downing).
Basin: Round, regular (Downing).
Skin: Rich light yellow (Downing, citing the Annals) / lemon-yellow when ripe (Hedrick); shaded and marbled with brown red on the side exposed to the sun (Downing) / colored with vivid red on the sun-exposed side (Hedrick); with an occasional fawn russet patch (Downing) / marked and dotted with russet (Hedrick).
Flesh and Flavor: Yellowish-white, melting, buttery, juicy (Downing); very fine, melting, buttery, with very abundant juice, sugary, having an exquisite perfume (Hedrick). Quality rated good. Both sources agree on the exquisite perfume.
Core/Seeds: Not described in sources.
Season
November to February (Hedrick). Downing cites the Annals of Pomology as giving January and February, but records that as he fruited the variety it ripened in November — consistent with the earlier end of Hedrick's range.
Uses
Not described in sources.
Subtypes/Variants
Not described in sources.
Other
Downing explicitly flags a discrepancy between the Annals of Pomology description and the fruit he received and fruited: the Annals calls it very large, pyriform, and a January–February pear, whereas his own specimens were medium-sized, roundish to slightly pyriform, and ripened in November. Whether this reflects variation among strains, growing conditions, or a possible mislabeling of the stock he received is not resolved in the source.
Book Sources
Described in 2 period pomological works
Nursery Catalog Sources
Found in 6 catalogs (1897–1917) from England
- Kelway & Son , Langport, Somerset , England — 1897
- 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 (2)
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)NOUVELLE FULVIE. Fulvie Gregoire.
This new Belgian Pear is described in the Annals of Pomology as:—
Fruit very large, pyriform. Surface uneven, rich light yellow, shaded and marbled with brown red in the sun, and an occasional fawn russet patch. Stalk stout, inserted as it were by a neck. Calyx large, in a round, regular basin. Flesh yellowish white, melting, buttery, juicy, sweet, with an exquisite perfume. January and February.
As we have received and fruited this Pear it is only of medium size, roundish, slightly pyriform, and ripens in November.
— U.P. Hedrick, The Pears of New York (1921)Nouvelle Fulvie.
- Ann. Pom. Belge 4:59, fig. 1857.
- Bunyard Handb. Hardy Fr. 190. 1920.
Belle de Jarnac. 3. Leroy Diet. Pom. 1:203, fig. 1867.
A gain of M. Grégoire, Jodoigne, Bel. First reported in 1854. Fruit large or very large, pyramidal-pyriform, strongly bossed, lemon-yellow when ripe, colored with vivid red on the side exposed to the sun, marked and dotted with russet; flesh yellowish-white, very fine, melting, buttery; juice very abundant, sugary, having an exquisite perfume; good; Nov. to Feb.