Pinneo
PearPinneo
Origin/History
An old American variety of disputed origin. Elliott (1865) and Downing place its origin in Tolland County, Connecticut, with Downing specifying the town of Columbia; Elliott notes it was first brought to public notice through the transactions of the Hartford County Horticultural Society. Hedrick (1921) gives a more detailed account, placing the parent tree in a woodland in New Haven, Connecticut, where it was found by Deacon Pinneo, who transplanted it to a spot near his dwelling around the year 1745. It was subsequently propagated and distributed over many farms and found a good market in Boston. Hedrick notes that by error it also acquired the names Boston and Virgalieu.
Tree
Young wood light reddish brown (Downing) or brownish red (Elliott). Downing describes the tree as a moderately vigorous grower and a good bearer; Elliott describes it as vigorous and productive.
Fruit
Size: Below medium (Downing); medium or below (Hedrick); small to medium (Elliott).
Form: Roundish oblate, slightly pyriform (Downing); globular-oblate, slightly pyriform (Hedrick); oblong obovate pyriform, tapering toward the stem (Elliott). The first two sources agree on a broadly rounded, oblate form; Elliott describes a more elongated, obovate-pyriform shape tapering to the stem end.
Stem: Rather long, nearly straight, sometimes curved (Downing); rather long (Elliott).
Cavity: Medium or small (Downing); shallow (Elliott).
Calyx: Partially open (Downing); medium, open (Elliott).
Basin: Broad (Downing); broad, shallow, slightly ribbed or furrowed (Elliott).
Skin: Pale yellow, netted, patched, and dotted with russet, with a warm red cheek on the sunny side (Downing, Hedrick). Elliott notes obscure dots and considerable russet near the base of the stem, and describes the blush as a tinge of red in the sun. Hedrick describes it as "slightly blushed on the sunny side."
Flesh: White (Downing) or yellowish-white (Hedrick, Elliott). Fine, juicy, melting. Downing: sweet, pleasant. Hedrick: rich, sugary, brisk, with a refreshing and delicious aroma. Elliott: sugary, rich, delicious flavor.
Core/Seeds: Core medium or small; seeds dark brownish black (Elliott). Not described in Downing or Hedrick.
Season
Last of August (Downing, Elliott); August (Hedrick).
Uses
Found a good market in Boston, where it was distributed widely in the mid-eighteenth century (Hedrick). Quality rated "Good" by Downing and 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)
— 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.
— 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.
— 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.