Osband
PearOsband
Origin/History
Originated in Wayne County, New York. Erroneously known in some trade as the Summer Virgalieu.
Tree
Shoots yellowish-olive, thick. Not otherwise described in sources.
Fruit
Size/Form: Sources conflict on size: Thomas describes the fruit as medium, often rather small; Veitch describes it as large. Form obovate, regular, smooth and even — described by Thomas as Doyenné-shaped — sometimes remotely pyriform.
Stem: Three-fourths to one inch long, slightly sunk in a nearly even cavity.
Cavity: Nearly even.
Calyx: Erect.
Basin: Round, nearly even, or slightly wrinkled.
Skin: Greenish-yellow, becoming yellow at maturity, with a reddish-brown cheek; often faintly russeted. Veitch notes good colour.
Flesh/Flavor: Flesh white, granular, with a sweet, mild, and fine flavor (Thomas). Veitch describes the fruit as very firm, rich, and highly flavoured. Thomas notes the fruit soon loses its flavor when mature.
Core/Seeds: Not described in sources.
Season
Ripens very early.
Uses
Good table pear.
Subtypes/Variants
Not described in sources.
Other
Not described in sources.
Book Sources
Described in 1 period pomological work
View original book sources (2)
— John J. Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)Osband.* (Summer Virgalieu, erroneously.) Medium in size, often rather small, obovate, regular, smooth and even (Doyenné-shaped); sometimes remotely pyriform; greenish-yellow becoming yellow, with a reddish-brown cheek, often faintly russeted; stalk three-fourths to one inch long, slightly sunk in a nearly even cavity; calyx erect, in a round, nearly even, or slightly wrinkled basin; flesh white, granular, with a sweet, mild, and fine flavor; soon loses its flavor when mature. Ripens very early. Shoots yellowish-olive, thick. Origin, Wayne County, N. Y.
— James Veitch & Sons, Veitch's Fruit Trees (1911) (1911)large, a pear of good colour, very firm, rich and highly flavoured. good table pear