Pengethley
PearOrigin/History
Raised by Thomas Andrew Knight, President of the London Horticultural Society. The fruit first appeared in 1831 and was then very fine (Herefordshire Pomona). In February 1832, Knight sent cions of the variety to Mr. Lowell and the Massachusetts Agricultural Society (Hedrick). Kenrick listed it in The American Orchardist in 1832 (Hedrick).
Tree
The tree is large, and its growth excessively luxuriant (Herefordshire Pomona). Elliott describes the tree as vigorous.
Fruit
Size: Medium.
Form: Obovate, a little curved at the stalk (Herefordshire Pomona); inclining to oval (Downing, Hedrick); obovate (Elliott). Thomas describes it simply as oval.
Stem: About half an inch in length (Herefordshire Pomona); long, rather slender (Downing); medium (Elliott).
Cavity: Not described in source.
Calyx: Eye small and a little open (Herefordshire Pomona). Downing describes the calyx as large, with segments quite long and narrow. Elliott describes the calyx as small, partly open.
Basin: Not described in source.
Skin: Yellowish brown and considerably russeted (Herefordshire Pomona). Downing describes the skin as light green, thickly sprinkled with dark dots, yellowish on the side of the sun, sometimes a red cheek. Hedrick describes pale green, covered with dark dots, changing to yellow as it ripens, sometimes having a red cheek. Elliott describes yellowish brown, russeted. Thomas describes light green, thickly dotted.
Flesh/Flavor: Yellowish, juicy and rich; a very good pear (Herefordshire Pomona). Somewhat coarse, but juicy, sweet, and good (Downing, Hedrick). Yellowish, juicy; "good" (Elliott). Coarse; juicy, sweet; good (Thomas). The Herefordshire Pomona notes it is larger, more juicy, and more inviting than the March Bergamot, and remains in perfection quite as late in spring.
Core/Seeds: Not described in source.
Season
February and March. Thomas gives February alone.
Uses
Not described in source.
Subtypes/Variants
Not described in source.
Other
Downing's description is attributed to Robert Manning's manuscript. The Herefordshire Pomona compares the variety favorably to the March Bergamot, noting it is larger, more juicy, and more inviting, remaining in perfection quite as late in spring.
Book Sources
Described in 5 period pomological works
View original book sources (5)
— Woolhope Naturalists Field Club, The Herefordshire Pomona (1885)Pengethley Pear.
Fruit middle-sized, obovate, a little curved at the stalk. Eye small and a little open ; stalk about half an inch in length. Skin yellowish brown and considerably russeted. Flesh yellowish, juicy and rich. A very good pear. Season February and March.
Note.—This Pear is larger, more juicy, and more inviting than the March Bergamot; and remains in perfection quite as late in Spring. The tree is large, and its growth excessively luxuriant. The fruit first appeared in 1831, and was then very fine.
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Pengethly.
One of Mr. Knight's seedlings.
Fruit medium, inclining to oval. Stalk long, rather slender. Calyx large. Segments quite long and narrow. Skin light green, thickly sprinkled with dark dots, yellowish on the side of the sun, sometimes a red cheek. Flesh somewhat coarse, but juicy, sweet, and good. February, March. (Robert Manning's MS.)
— U.P. Hedrick, The Pears of New York (1921)Pengethley.
- Kenrick Am. Orch. 197. 1832.
Raised by T. A. Knight, President of the London Horticultural Society, who, in February, 1832, sent cions of the variety to Mr. Lowell and the Massachusetts Agricultural Society. Fruit medium, inclining to oval, obovate, pale green, covered with dark dots, changing to yellow as it ripens, sometimes having a red cheek; flesh somewhat coarse, but juicy, sweet, and good; Feb. and Mar.
— F.R. Elliott, The Western Fruit Book (1865)Pengethley.
Foreign. Tree, vigorous. Fruit, medium, obovate, yellowish brown, russeted ; stem, medium ; calyx, small, partly open ; flesh, yellowish, juicy ; "good." February, March.
— John J. Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)Pengethly. Medium, oval, light green, thickly dotted; coarse; juicy, sweet; good. February. English.