Philadelphia

Pear

Philadelphia

Origin/History

Philadelphia originated near Philadelphia. It has been erroneously called Orange Bergamot by some sources (Downing).

Tree

The tree is healthy and vigorous, with light yellowish brown young shoots. It is productive. Fruit sometimes cracks (Downing).

Fruit

Size and Form

The fruit is large. Downing describes the form as roundish obtuse pyriform; Thomas describes it as roundish-obovate, broad, remotely approaching Diel form. Both descriptions agree on a broadly rounded, pear-shaped form.

Stem

The stalk is of medium length (Downing) and stout at its insertion into the fruit (both sources).

Cavity

The cavity is abrupt (both sources).

Calyx

The calyx is open (Downing). Thomas does not separately describe the calyx.

Basin

The basin is broad and uneven (both sources).

Skin

The skin is yellow, thickly sprinkled with green or gray dots (Downing) — described by Thomas as thickly dotted. The skin is sometimes partly netted or covered with russet (both sources).

Flesh and Flavor

The flesh is coarse, juicy, buttery, and melting. Downing rates the flavor as sugary and slightly perfumed, and assigns an overall quality rating of Good. Thomas describes the flavor as very good and slightly perfumed.

Core/Seeds

Not described in source.

Season

September (both sources).

Uses

Not described in source.

Subtypes/Variants

Not described in source.

Book Sources

Described in 2 period pomological works

Nursery Catalog Sources

Found in 1 catalog (1901) from Illinois

Benjamin Buckman (personal inventory) , Farmingdale , Illinois — 1901

View original book sources (2)

Philadelphia.

Latch. Orange Bergamot, erroneously.

Origin, near Philadelphia. Tree healthy, vigorous. Young shoots light yellowish brown, productive. Fruit sometimes cracks.

Fruit large, roundish obtuse pyriform, yellow, thickly sprinkled with green or gray dots, sometimes netted with russet. Stalk of medium length, stout at its insertion, in an abrupt cavity. Calyx open, set in a broad, uneven basin. Flesh coarse, juicy, buttery, melting, with a sugary flavor, slightly perfumed. Good. September.

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

Philadelphia. Large, roundish-obovate, broad, remotely approaching Diel form; skin yellow, thickly dotted, sometimes partly russeted; stalk stout, cavity abrupt; basin broad, uneven; flesh coarse, buttery, melting, with a very good flavor, slightly perfumed. September.

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

Latch Orange Bergamot [err.]