Passans du Portugal
PearPassans du Portugal
Origin/History
The name suggests Portuguese origin (Hedrick). Hedrick explicitly cautions that Passans du Portugal should not be confused with Summer Portugal, noting that although the two varieties have various synonyms in common and share some qualities, they are distinct. Downing, by contrast, lists Summer Portugal as a synonym — a direct conflict with Hedrick's identification. Elliott describes the variety as "Foreign."
Tree
Comes early into bearing and produces very large crops (Downing). Elliott describes the growth habit as upright. Shoots are grayish reddish brown (Downing) or reddish brown (Elliott).
Fruit
Size: The sources disagree: Downing calls the fruit small; Elliott calls it below medium; Hedrick calls it medium.
Form: Roundish oblate (Downing); oblate, flattened after the Bergamot type (Hedrick); roundish obovate (Elliott).
Skin: Pale yellow at maturity (all three sources agree). Hedrick describes the ground color as a lively green that changes to pale yellow on ripening. In sun, Downing describes "a cheek of fairest brown, becoming red in the sun"; Hedrick says the red next the sun brightens toward maturity to a more vivid shade; Elliott says brownish red in sun.
Stem
Nearly an inch long (Downing); one inch (Elliott). Downing specifies it is inserted in a round, regular hollow.
Calyx
Stiff (Downing); erect (Elliott).
Basin
Moderately sunk (Downing).
Flesh/Flavor
Flesh white, juicy, and breaking (all three sources agree). Downing describes the flavor as very delicate and agreeable, rating the fruit Good. Hedrick describes a fine sugary and perfumed flavor, rating it an excellent dessert pear. Elliott records the flavor as "very good."
Season
Last of August (Downing, Elliott); August (Hedrick).
Uses
Dessert (Hedrick).
Subtypes/Variants
Not described in source.
Other
Not described in source.
Book Sources
Described in 3 period pomological works
View original book sources (3)
— 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.
— 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.