Osband's Summer
Pear
USDA Pomological Watercolor Collection
Osband's Summer
Origin / History
Originated in the vicinity of Palmyra, Wayne County, New York, about 1840. Was at first known as Summer Virgalieu and published under that name in the Genesee Farmer in 1845 or 1846. Referenced in the Horticulturist 1:211, fig. 59 (1846) and Leroy, Dict. Pom. 2:492, fig. (1869).
Tree
Moderately vigorous, upright habit, an early and prolific bearer. Young wood rich yellow brown. (Downing.)
Fruit
Size and Form: Small (Downing; Hedrick), described by Elliott as below medium. Shape roundish ovate obovate pyriform (Downing); obovate-pyriform (Hedrick); ovate obovate pyriform (Elliott).
Skin: Clear yellow, thickly dotted with small greenish and brown dots (Downing; Hedrick); Elliott describes the dots as small green only, without brown. A warm cheek develops on the side toward the sun (Downing; Hedrick); Elliott describes this cheek as rarely appearing and only a slight red. Some traces of russet, particularly around the stalk and calyx (Downing; Hedrick). Elliott notes the skin is rather thick.
Stem: Medium length, rather strong (Downing). Inserted in an abrupt cavity (Downing); Elliott describes the cavity as shallow and uneven.
Calyx: Open (Downing; Elliott). Set in a broad, shallow basin (Downing). Calyx segments long and straggling (Elliott).
Flesh: White (Downing; Hedrick); yellowish white according to Elliott. Juicy (all sources). Melting (Downing; Hedrick); Elliott describes the flesh as rather coarse grained.
Flavor: Rich sugary flavor with a pleasant musky perfume (Downing); rich sugary flavor with an agreeable perfume of musk (Hedrick). Flavor and perfume not described by Elliott.
Core / Seeds: Not described in source.
Season
Early August (Downing; Hedrick). Elliott gives Early September — a significant conflict with the other two sources.
Uses
Not described in source.
Quality
Very good (Downing). First in quality and appearance (Hedrick). Elliott rates it more cautiously, noting it "promises 'valuable.'"
Subtypes / Variants
Not described in source.
Other
Not described in source.
Book Sources
Described in 3 period pomological works
Nursery Catalog Sources
Found in 7 catalogs (1886–1904) from Alabama, Florida, Illinois, Virginia
- Huntsville Wholesale Nurseries (Jessie S. Moss , Proprietor; W.F. Heikes, Manager), Huntsville , Alabama — 1886
- Glen St. Mary Nurseries (G.L. Taber , Proprietor), Glen St. Mary , Florida — 1893
- The Vineland Nurseries (Kelsey & Co. , Proprietors), St. Joseph, Missouri (Office: 13th and Atchison Sts., 2 Blocks East of the Citizens St. Car Line) — 1894
- The Salem Nursery (John A. Francis , Proprietor), Salem , Virginia — 1897
- Alabama Nursery Co. , Huntsville , Alabama — 1900
- Benjamin Buckman (personal inventory) , Farmingdale , Illinois — 1901
- Phoenix Nursery Company (W. E. Rossney , President; Sidney Tuttle, Vice-President), Bloomington , Illinois — 1904
View original book sources (3)
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Osband's Summer.
Osband's Favorite. Summer Virgalieu.
Origin, Wayne County, N. Y. Tree moderately vigorous, upright, an early and prolific bearer. Young wood rich yellow brown.
Fruit small, roundish ovate obovate pyriform, clear yellow, thickly dotted with small greenish and brown dots, with a warm cheek on the side of the sun, and some traces of russet, particularly around stalk and calyx. Stalk of medium length, rather strong, inserted in an abrupt cavity. Calyx open, set in a broad, shallow basin. Flesh white, juicy, melting, with a rich sugary flavor and pleasant musky perfume. Very good. Ripens early in August.
— U.P. Hedrick, The Pears of New York (1921)Osband Summer,
- Horticulturist 1:211, fig. 59. 1846.
- Leroy Dict. Pom. 2:492, fig. 1869.
Originated in the vicinity of Palmyra in Wayne County, N. Y., about 1840 and was at first known as Summer Virgalieu and so published in the Genesee Farmer in 1845 or 1846. Fruit small, obovate-pyriform, clear yellow, thickly dotted with small greenish and brown dots, with a warm cheek on the side next the sun and with some traces of russet especially around the stem and calyx; flesh white, juicy, melting, with a rich sugary flavor and agreeable perfume of musk; first in quality and appearance; early in Aug.
— F.R. Elliott, The Western Fruit Book (1865)Osband's Summer.
Osband's Favorite, | Summer Vergalieu, of some.
American. Native of Wayne Co., N. Y. Fruit, below medium, ovate obovate pyriform, clear yellow, small green dots, and rarely a slight red cheek in sun ; skin, rather thick ; stem, medium, inserted in a shallow, uneven cavity ; calyx, with open, long, straggling segments ; flesh, yellowish white, rather coarse grained, juicy ; promises " valuable." Early September.