Passans du Portugal
PearPassans du Portugal
Origin / History
Foreign (Elliott). The name would seem to indicate Portuguese origin (Hedrick). Not to be confused with Summer Portugal, although the two varieties have various synonyms in common and some qualities in common (Hedrick). Described in Mag. Hort. 4:390 (1838) and Hogg, Fruit Manual 626 (1884). Downing calls it "a delicate and pleasant Pear."
Tree
Growth upright (Elliott). Shoots reddish brown (Elliott), grayish reddish brown (Downing). Comes early into bearing and produces very large crops (Downing).
Fruit
Size: Small to medium; below medium (Elliott), small (Downing), medium (Hedrick).
Form: Roundish obovate (Elliott); roundish oblate (Downing); oblate, flattened after the Bergamot type (Hedrick).
Stem: Nearly an inch to one inch long.
Cavity: Round, regular hollow.
Calyx: Erect (Elliott); stiff (Downing).
Basin: Moderately sunk.
Skin: Pale yellow (Elliott, Downing); lively green changing to pale yellow on ripening (Hedrick). Cheek of "fairest brown," becoming red in the sun (Downing); brownish red in the sun (Elliott). Red next the sun, brightening toward maturity to a more vivid shade (Hedrick).
Dots: Not described in source.
Flesh and flavor: Flesh white, juicy, breaking. Flavor of very delicate, agreeable character (Downing); fine, sugary and perfumed (Hedrick). Quality "very good" (Elliott); "Good" (Downing); "an excellent dessert pear" (Hedrick).
Core and seeds: Not described in source.
Season
Last of August (Elliott, Downing); August (Hedrick).
Uses
Dessert pear.
Subtypes / Variants
Not described in source.
Other
Not described in source.
Book Sources
Described in 3 period pomological works
Nursery Catalog Sources
Found in 2 catalogs (1845–1849) from Massachusetts
- Winship's Nursery (Brighton Nurseries , operated by the Winship family), Brighton (Boston) , Massachusetts — 1845 — listed as Passans de Portugal
- Hovey & Co. , Cambridge , Massachusetts — 1849
View original book sources (3)
— F.R. Elliott, The Western Fruit Book (1865)Passans du Portugal.
Poire Cheneille, | Miller's Early, | Bergamotte.
Foreign. Tree, upright growth ; shoots, reddish brown. Fruit, below medium, roundish obovate, pale yellow, brownish red in sun : stem, one inch ; calyx, erect ; flesh, white, juicy, breaking ; " very good." Last of August.
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Passans du Portugal.
Summer Portugal. Poire Chenille. Miller's Early. Chenille. Butter of Michigan.
A delicate and pleasant Pear, which comes early into bearing, and produces very large crops. Shoots grayish reddish brown.
Fruit small, roundish oblate, pale yellow, with a cheek of fairest brown, becoming red in the sun. Stalk nearly an inch long, inserted in a round, regular hollow. Calyx stiff. Basin moderately sunk. Flesh white, juicy, breaking, of very delicate, agreeable flavor. Good. Last of August.
— U.P. Hedrick, The Pears of New York (1921)Passans du Portugal.
- Mag. Hort. 4:390. 1838. 2. Hogg Fruit Man. 626. 1884.
Passans du Portugal would seem from its name to be of Portuguese origin. It should not be confused with Summer Portugal although the two varieties have various synonyms in common and have some qualities in common. Fruit medium, oblate, flattened after the Bergamot type, lively green changing to pale yellow on ripening, red next the sun brightening toward maturity to a more vivid shade; flesh white, breaking, juicy, with a fine sugary and perfumed flavor; an excellent dessert pear; Aug.