Orange Musquee
Pear
Orange Musquee
Origin/History
Orange Musquee is an old pear of uncertain origin, though probably French or Italian according to Hedrick. It was described by Duhamel as early as 1768 (Trait. Arb. Fr. 2:140, Pl. X) and appeared subsequently in Hogg's Fruit Manual (625, 1884) and Mathieu's Nom. Pom. (255, 1889). Coxe included it among his enumerated pears in 1817, listing it as No. 14.
Tree
Not described in sources.
Fruit
Size and Form
Fruit medium in size (Downing, Hedrick) or of a moderate size (Coxe). The form is round (Coxe, Downing). Hedrick gives a fuller account: globular, more or less bossed, flattened at both ends, though sometimes rather conic and obtuse at the top.
Stem
The stalk is rather large and long (Coxe). Not described by Downing or Hedrick.
Cavity
Planted in an irregular cavity (Coxe). Not described by Downing or Hedrick.
Calyx
Not described in sources.
Basin
Not described in sources.
Skin
Greenish yellow (Coxe). Downing describes it as yellow, marbled and shaded with red in the sun. Hedrick offers the most detailed account: smooth skin punctured like an orange, yellow-green changing to fine lemon, with a lively red next the sun, but rather variable.
Flesh and Flavor
Flesh juicy and well flavoured (Coxe). Downing characterizes the flesh as breaking, with a musky juice. Hedrick describes the flesh as white, coarse, and breaking, gritty at the center; the juice not very abundant, rather saccharine, sweet, possessing a musky flavor and perfume.
Quality
Good (Downing). Hedrick qualifies this as variable, on the whole good. Coxe calls it juicy and well flavoured but notes it is uncommonly subject to rot.
Core and Seeds
Not described in sources.
Season
Ripens in August (Coxe). Last of August (Downing). End of August (Hedrick).
Uses
Not described in sources.
Subtypes/Variants
Not described in sources.
Other
Coxe specifically notes that this pear is uncommonly subject to rot — a practical identification and handling consideration not mentioned by the later sources.
Book Sources
Described in 3 period pomological works
- Coxe, A View of the Cultivation of Fruit Trees (1817) — listed as Orange Musquee, Or Musk Orange Pear
- Downing, Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)
- Hedrick, The Pears of New York (1921)
View original book sources (3)
— William Coxe, A View of the Cultivation of Fruit Trees (1817)
- ORANGE MUSQUEE, OR MUSK ORANGE PEAR.
This pear is of a moderate size, of a round form, diminishing a little towards the stalk, which is rather large and long, and planted in an irregular cavity. The flesh is juicy and well flavoured, but uncommonly subject to rot—the skin is a greenish yellow: it ripens in August.
[Additional entry in this volume: "Orange Musquee", pp. 274–274]
No. 14. Orange Musquee'.
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Orange Musquee.
Orange Musk. Musk Orange. Orange d'Été.
Fruit medium, round, yellow, marbled and shaded with red in the sun. Flesh breaking, with a musky juice. Good. Last of August.
— U.P. Hedrick, The Pears of New York (1921)Orange Musquee.
- Duhamel Trait. Arb. Fr. 2:140, Pl. X. 1768. 2. Hogg Fruit Man. 625. 1884. Muskierte Pomeranzenbirne. 3. Mathieu Nom. Pom. 255. 1889.
This is an old pear of uncertain origin, though probably French or Italian. Fruit medium, globular, more or less bossed, flattened at both ends though sometimes rather conic and obtuse at the top; smooth skin punctured like an orange, yellow-green changing to fine lemon, with a lively red next the sun but rather variable; flesh white, coarse, breaking, gritty at center; juice not very abundant, rather saccharine, sweet, possessing a musky flavor and perfume; quality variable, on the whole, good; end of Aug.