Pitmaston Duchess
Pear
Pitmaston Duchess
Origin/History
Of English origin. Thomas (1903) notes it as "New."
Tree
A strong grower (Central Experimental Farm, 1900). A good bearer (Veitch, 1911). Requires rather a warm position for producing fine fruit; performs well when grown against a wall (Veitch, 1911).
Fruit
Size
Thomas (1903) and the Central Experimental Farm (1900) both describe the fruit as large. Veitch (1911) describes it as medium size.
Form
Obtuse pyriform, uneven (Thomas, 1903). The Central Experimental Farm (1900) describes the form as obovate, pyriform.
Stem
Not described in source.
Cavity
Not described in source.
Calyx
Not described in source.
Basin
Not described in source.
Skin
Yellow, with some red and russet (Thomas, 1903). The Central Experimental Farm (1900) similarly describes the skin as yellow with a little russet, without noting red.
Flesh / Flavor
Flesh yellowish, juicy, buttery, with a pleasant flavour (Central Experimental Farm, 1900). Thomas (1903) describes it as half melting and vinous, rating it good. Veitch (1911) describes it as melting, juicy, and rich.
Core / Seeds
Not described in source.
Season
October (Thomas, 1903; Central Experimental Farm, 1900).
Uses
Not described in source.
Other
The Central Experimental Farm specimen was planted spring 1893.
Book Sources
Described in 1 period pomological work
Nursery Catalog Sources
Found in 13 catalogs (1897–1917) from England, Washington
- Kelway & Son , Langport, Somerset , England — 1897
- George Bunyard & Co. , Royal Nurseries, Maidstone, Kent , England — 1900
- Central Experimental Farm , Dominion Department of Agriculture, Agassiz, British Columbia (under test; Bulletin No. 3, Second Series) — 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 (3)
— John J. Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)Pitmaston Duchesse. Large, obtuse pyriform, uneven, yellow, with some red and russet; half melting, vinous; good. October. English. New.
— Central Experimental Farm, Central Experimental Farm, Agassiz BC — Catalogue of Fruit Trees under Test (Bulletin No. 3, 1900) (1900)Planted Spring 1893. Tree a strong grower. Fruit large, obovate, pyriform. Skin yellow with a little russet. Flesh yellowish, juicy, buttery, with a pleasant flavour. Season October.
— James Veitch & Sons, Veitch's Fruit Trees (1911) (1911)medium size, melting, juicy and rich; requires rather a warm position for producing fine fruit; a good bearer; when grown against a wall.