Pinneo

Origin/History

An old American pear. Hedrick (1921) provides the fullest account: the parent tree was found growing in a woodland in New Haven, Connecticut, by Dea. Pinneo, who transplanted it near his dwelling around the year 1745. It was subsequently propagated and distributed over many farms, where it found a good market in Boston. Elliott (1865) states the variety originated in Tolland County, Connecticut, and was first introduced to notice in the transactions of the Hartford County Horticultural Society. Downing (1900) places the origin more specifically in Columbia, Tolland County, Connecticut. Hedrick notes that by error the variety also acquired the names Boston and Virgalieu.

Tree

Tree moderately vigorous (Downing; Hedrick), though Elliott describes it as vigorous. A good bearer (Downing) and productive (Elliott). Young wood light reddish brown (Downing); Elliott describes it as brownish red.

Fruit

Size: Small to medium (Elliott); below medium (Downing); medium or below (Hedrick).

Form: Elliott describes the fruit as oblong obovate pyriform, tapering toward the stem. Downing and Hedrick describe a more compact, rounded form — roundish oblate, slightly pyriform (Downing); globular-oblate, slightly pyriform (Hedrick). Under the Summer Virgalieu name, Downing and Hedrick both describe the form as roundish pyriform.

Stem: Rather long, nearly straight, sometimes curved (Downing); rather long (Elliott). Under the Summer Virgalieu name, Downing and Hedrick describe the stalk as rather long and often curved.

Cavity: Shallow (Elliott); medium or small (Downing). Under the Summer Virgalieu name, both Downing and Hedrick describe a small cavity.

Calyx: Medium, open (Elliott); partially open (Downing). Under the Summer Virgalieu name, calyx open, segments recurved (Downing; Hedrick).

Basin: Broad, shallow, slightly ribbed or furrowed (Elliott); broad (Downing). Under the Summer Virgalieu name, basin shallow and uneven (Downing; Hedrick).

Skin: Pale yellow, with a tinge of red in the sun, obscure dots, and considerable russet near the base of the stem (Elliott). Downing describes the skin as pale yellow, netted, patched, and dotted with russet, with often a warm red cheek in the sun. Hedrick similarly describes it as pale yellow, netted, patched, and dotted with russet, slightly blushed on the sunny side. Under the Summer Virgalieu name, both Downing and Hedrick describe the skin as yellow, slightly netted and patched with russet, and thickly sprinkled with russet dots.

Flesh/Flavor: Yellowish white, melting, juicy, sugary, with a rich, delicious flavor (Elliott). Downing describes the flesh as white, fine, juicy, melting, sweet, and pleasant, rating it Good. Hedrick describes it as yellowish-white, fine, melting, juicy, rich, sugary, and brisk, with a refreshing and delicious aroma, rating it Good. Under the Summer Virgalieu name, both Downing and Hedrick describe the flesh as yellowish, juicy, melting, and a little vinous, rating it Good — a somewhat different character from the main description.

Core/Seeds: Core medium or small (Elliott). Seeds dark brownish black (Elliott).

Season

Last of August (Elliott; Downing). August (Hedrick).

Uses

Found a good market in Boston (Hedrick).

Subtypes/Variants

Not described in source.