Pinneo
PearPinneo
Origin / History
American. Elliott says it originated in Tolland County, Conn., and was first brought to notice in the transactions of the Hartford County Horticultural Society. Downing calls it an old American variety, said to have originated in Columbia, Tolland Co., Conn. Hedrick gives a different place: the parent tree was found growing in a woodland at New Haven, Conn., by Dea. Pinneo, who transplanted it to a spot near his dwelling about the year 1745. It was propagated and distributed over many farms. By error it acquired also the names of Boston and Virgalieu (Hedrick).
Tree
Tree vigorous (Elliott) or moderately vigorous (Downing), productive, a good bearer. Young wood brownish red to light reddish brown.
Fruit
Size: Small to medium; below medium; medium or below.
Form: Roundish oblate to globular-oblate, slightly pyriform (Downing; Hedrick adds "globular-oblate"). Elliott alone describes it as oblong obovate pyriform, tapering toward the stem.
Stem: Rather long, nearly straight, sometimes curved (Downing).
Cavity: Shallow (Elliott); medium or small (Downing).
Calyx: Medium, open (Elliott); partially open (Downing).
Basin: Broad, shallow, slightly ribbed or furrowed (Elliott); broad (Downing).
Skin: Pale yellow, netted, patched, and dotted with russet; considerable russet near the base of the stem (Elliott). Tinge of red in the sun to slightly blushed on the sunny side; Downing adds often a warm red cheek in the sun.
Dots: Obscure (Elliott); russet (Downing).
Flesh and flavor: Yellowish white or white; fine, melting, juicy, sugary or sweet. Elliott: "rich delicious flavor." Downing: "pleasant." Hedrick: rich, sugary, brisk, "with a refreshing and delicious aroma." Downing and Hedrick rate it "good."
Core and seeds: Core medium or small; seeds dark brownish black (Elliott).
Season
Last of August to August; Elliott and Downing give "last of August", Hedrick "Aug."
Uses
Found a good market in Boston (Hedrick).
Subtypes / Variants
Not described in source.
Other
Not described in source.
Book Sources
Described in 4 period pomological works
View original book sources (3)
— F.R. Elliott, The Western Fruit Book (1865)PINNEO.
Boston, | Summer Virgalieu, Graves? | Hebron.
American. Originated in Tolland County, Conn., and first introduced to notice in transactions of the Hartford County Horticultural Society. Young wood, of a brownish red ; tree vigorous and productive. Fruit, small to medium, oblong obovate pyriform, tapering toward the stem ; color, pale yellow, tinge of red in the sun, obscure dots, and considerable russet near base of stem; stem, rather long; cavity, shallow; calyx, medium, open ; basin, broad, shallow, slightly ribbed or furrowed ; flesh, yellowish white, melting, juicy, sugary, rich delicious flavor ; core, medium or small ; seeds, dark brownish black. Last of August.
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)PINNEO.
Boston. Early Denzelona. Graves. Hebron. Silliman's Russet. Lebanon. Summer Virgalieu.
An old American variety, said to have originated in Columbia, Tolland Co., Conn. Tree a moderately vigorous grower, a good bearer. Young wood light reddish brown.
Fruit below medium, roundish oblate, slightly pyriform, pale yellow, netted, patched, and dotted with russet, and often a warm red cheek in sun. Stalk rather long, nearly straight, sometimes curved. Cavity medium or small. Calyx partially open. Basin broad. Flesh white, fine, juicy, melting, sweet, pleasant. Good. Last of August.
[Additional entry in this volume: "Summer Virgalieu", pp. 887–887]
Summer Virgalieu.
Powell's Virgalieu.
Origin unknown. Tree moderately vigorous, productive.
Fruit medium, roundish pyriform. Skin yellow, slightly netted and patched with russet, and thickly sprinkled with russet dots. Stalk rather long, often curved, set in a small cavity. Calyx open. Segments recurved. Basin shallow, uneven. Flesh yellowish, juicy, melting, a little vinous. Good. August.
— U.P. Hedrick, The Pears of New York (1921)Pinneo.
x. Cultivator 304. 1845. 2. Downing Fr. Trees Am. 833. 1869. Hebron. 3. Mag. Hort. 24:419. 1858. Boston. 4. Ibid. 500. 1858.
The parent tree of this variety was found growing in a woodland, New Haven, Conn., by Dea. Pinneo who transplanted it to a spot near his dwelling about the year 1745. It was propagated and distributed over many farms and found a good market in Boston. By error it acquired also the names of Boston and Virgalieu. Fruit medium or below, globular-oblate, slightly pyriform, pale yellow, netted, patched, and dotted with russet, slightly blushed on the sunny side; flesh yellowish-white, fine, melting, juicy, rich, sugary, brisk, with a refreshing and delicious aroma; good; Aug.
[Additional entry in this volume: "Summer Virgalieu", pp. 738–738]
Summer Virgalieu.
- Downing Fr. Trees. Am. 864. 1869. VirgaKfud'M.
- Mas Pom. Gen. 1:5, fig. 3. 1872.
Origin unknown.
Tree moderately vigorous, productive.
Fruit roundish, pyriform, yellow, slightly netted and patched with russet, thickly sprinkled with russet dots; stem rather long, set in a small cavity; calyx open; segments recurved; basin shallow, uneven; flesh yellowish, juicy, melting, slightly vinous; good; Aug.