Oliver's Russet
PearOliver's Russet
Origin/History
Originated about 1832 in the garden of G. W. Oliver, Lynn, Massachusetts, where the parent tree was found growing. Shown before the Massachusetts Horticultural Society in the autumn of 1843 by G. W. Oliver. References: Mag. Hort. 10:212. 1844; Downing Fr. Trees Am. 579. 1857.
Tree
Not described in source.
Fruit
Size: Below medium (Downing; Hedrick); described as "rather small" by Thomas.
Form: Roundish (Downing; Thomas). Hedrick, writing in The Pears of New York, describes the form as obovate, obtuse — a conflict with the roundish form given by Downing and Thomas.
Stem/Cavity: Stalk set in a cavity (Downing).
Calyx: Not described in source.
Basin: Small (Downing).
Skin: Cinnamon russet on a yellow ground, with a blush (Downing; Hedrick). Thomas describes the surface as yellow with rich brown russet, rough.
Flesh/Flavor: Flesh whitish (Downing) or yellowish (Hedrick). Coarse in texture (all three sources). Hedrick adds that the flesh is melting and juicy. Flavor is without much flavor (Downing; Hedrick) or moderate (Thomas).
Core/Seeds: Not described in source.
Season
Last of September or late September (Downing; Thomas). October (Hedrick).
Uses
Not described in source.
Subtypes/Variants
Not described in source.
Other
Not described in source.
Book Sources
Described in 3 period pomological works
View original book sources (3)
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Oliver's Russet.
Originated in the grounds of Oliver, Lynn, Mass.
Fruit below medium, roundish, cinnamon russet on yellow ground, with a blush. Stalk in a cavity. Basin small. Flesh whitish, coarse, without much flavor. Last of September.
— U.P. Hedrick, The Pears of New York (1921)Oliver Russet,
- Mag. Hort. 10:212. 1844. 2. Downing Fr. Trees Am. 579. 1857.
Oliver Russet originated about 1832 and was shown before the Massachusetts Horticultural Society in the autumn of 1843 by G. W. Oliver, Lynn, Mass., in whose garden the parent tree was found growing. Fruit medium or below, obovate, obtuse; skin fair cinnamon-russet on a yellow ground, with a blush; flesh yellowish, coarse, melting, juicy without much flavor; Oct.
— John J. Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)Oliver's Russet. Rather small, roundish, yellow and rich brown russet, rough; coarse, flavor moderate. Late September.