Pitmaston Duchess
Pear
PITMASTON DUCHESS
Origin and History
This beautiful pear is of British origin. The seedling was raised by the late Mr. Williams, of Pitmaston, near Worcester, and obtained from crossing Duchesse d'Angouleme with Glou Morceau. At the time of publication (1885), the variety was some thirty or forty years old.
Fruit
Size and Form: Large and handsome, four inches and a quarter long, and two inches and three quarters wide. Pyramidal in form, generally even or a little undulating in its outline, and sometimes rather prominently bossed.
Skin: Smooth and fine, of a pale lemon colour, thickly covered with patches of delicate cinnamon-coloured russet, with a large patch round the stalk.
Calyx/Eye: Large and open, set in a wide depression.
Stem: About an inch long, stout, and inserted either level with the surface, or in a small narrow cavity.
Flesh and Flavor: Very tender and melting, very juicy, exceedingly rich, with a sprightly vinous flavour and delicate perfume.
Tree
Hardy and grows freely. Well adapted for pyramids, bushes, or espaliers. The fruit is too large to be grown as a standard.
Season
In season from the end of October till the end of November.
Book Sources
Described in 1 period pomological work
Nursery Catalog Sources
Found in 12 catalogs (1897–1917) from England, Washington
- Kelway & Son , Langport, Somerset , England — 1897
- George Bunyard & Co. , Royal Nurseries, Maidstone, Kent , England — 1900
- Island Nurseries & Fruit Farm , Vashon (Vashon Island) , Washington — 1910
- Island Nurseries & Fruit Farm , Vashon (Vashon Island) , Washington — 1911
- James Veitch & Sons , Ltd., Royal Exotic Nursery, Chelsea, London (also Coombe Wood, Langley, and Feltham) , England — 1911
- Thomas Rivers & Son , Sawbridgeworth, Hertfordshire , England — 1913
- George Bunyard & Co. , Royal Nurseries, Maidstone, Kent , England — 1914
- Island Nurseries & Fruit Farm , Vashon (Vashon Island) , Washington — 1914
- Island Nurseries & Fruit Farm , Vashon (Vashon Island) , Washington — 1915
- Island Nurseries & Fruit Farm , Vashon (Vashon Island) , Washington — 1916
- George Bunyard & Co. , Royal Nurseries, Maidstone, Kent , England — 1917
- Island Nurseries & Fruit Farm , Vashon (Vashon Island) , Washington — 1917
View original book sources (1)
— Woolhope Naturalists Field Club, The Herefordshire Pomona (1885)Plate XIII.
- PITMASTON DUCHESS.
[Syn : Pitmaston Duchesse d'Angouleme ; Williams Duchesse d'Angouleme.]
This beautiful pear is of British origin. The seedling was raised by the late Mr. Williams, of Pitmaston, near Worcester, and obtained from crossing Duchesse d'Angouleme with Glou Morceau. It may be at this time some thirty or forty years old.
Description.—Fruit, large and handsome, four inches and a quarter long, and two inches and three quarters wide ; pyramidal, generally even or a little undulating in its outline, and sometimes rather prominently bossed. Skin, smooth and fine, of a pale lemon colour, thickly covered with patches of delicate cinnamon coloured russet, with a large patch round the stalk. Eye, large and open, set in a wide depression. Stalk, about an inch long, stout, and inserted either level with the surface, or in a small narrow cavity. Flesh, very tender and melting, very juicy, exceedingly rich, with a sprightly vinous flavour and delicate perfume.
A very handsome pear, of the finest quality ; in season from the end of October till the end of November. The tree is hardy, and grows freely. It is well adapted for pyramids, bushes, or espaliers. The fruit is too large to be grown as a standard.