Osborne

Pear

Osborne

Origin / History

A native American variety originating on the farm of John Osborne, Economy, Indiana. It was introduced by Ernst and first fruited in Ernst's nursery in 1844. The variety was published in the Western Farmer and Gardener (Vol. 5) and is cited in Magazine of Horticulture 12:338 (1846) and Downing's Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1869, p. 825).

Tree

Productive and a free grower (Downing). No further tree characteristics described in sources.

Fruit

Size and Form: Downing and Thomas describe the fruit as medium; Hedrick describes it as small. All three sources agree on a short-pyriform form.

Stem: Rather long (Downing). Planted on one side (Hedrick).

Cavity: Not described in source.

Calyx: Partially closed (Downing).

Basin: Broad and shallow (Downing).

Skin: Thin (Hedrick), yellowish-green, with numerous gray dots (Downing, Hedrick).

Flesh and Flavor: White, juicy, brisk, and vinous (Downing, Hedrick, Thomas). Hedrick additionally describes the flesh as tender and sweet, with a slight astringency and a highly-perfumed flavor. Quality: Hedrick rates it first quality; Downing rates it "hardly good."

Core / Seeds: Not described in source.

Season

Downing: middle of September. Hedrick: August and September. Thomas: September.

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)

Osborne.

Origin, Economy, Ind. Productive and a free grower.

Fruit medium, short pyriform, yellowish green, with numerous gray dots. Stalk rather long. Basin broad and shallow. Calyx partially closed. Flesh white, juicy, brisk, vinous. Hardly good. Middle of September.

— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)

Osborne.

Mag. Hort. 12:338. 1846.

Downing Fr. Trees Am. 825. 1869. A native variety which originated on the farm of John Osborne, Economy, Ind. It was introduced by Ernst, and published in the Western Farmer and Gardener (Vol. 5), having first fruited in Ernst's nursery in 1844. Fruit small, short-pyriform, stem planted on one side; skin thin, yellowish-green, with numerous gray dots; flesh white, tender, juicy, brisk, sweet, vinous, with a slight astringency and highly-perfumed flavor; first; Aug. and Sept.

— U.P. Hedrick, The Pears of New York (1921)

Osborne. Medium, short pyriform, yellowish-green; juicy, brisk. September. Indiana.

— John J. Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)