Poire des Chasseurs
PearPoire des Chasseurs
Origin/History
Poire des Chasseurs is a Belgian pear, supposed to be one of Van Mons' seedlings (Downing). Hedrick identifies it more precisely as a posthumous gain of Van Mons, tasted for the first time in 1842 and reported on by M. Simon Bouvier of Jodoigne, Belgium. Hedrick cites its first publication as Annales de Pomologie Belge 5:31, fig., 1857.
Tree
The tree is moderately vigorous, somewhat spreading, and productive. Young shoots are warm yellow brown (Downing). Not further described in Thomas or Hedrick.
Fruit
Size: Downing and Thomas describe the fruit as medium; Hedrick gives medium to large.
Form: The three sources differ on shape. Downing describes the fruit as pyriform, sometimes obtuse. Thomas calls it short pyriform. Hedrick gives ovate-pyriform.
Stem: Long, enlarged at its junction, without depression (Downing). Not described in Thomas or Hedrick.
Cavity: Not described in any source.
Calyx: Small (Downing). Not described in Thomas or Hedrick.
Basin: Shallow (Downing). Not described in Thomas or Hedrick.
Skin: Greenish yellow (Downing, Thomas), or simply greenish (Hedrick). Downing describes the surface as covered with minute dots and a few patches of russet. Hedrick, by contrast, describes the skin as dotted with russet and much stained with russet on the sun-exposed side — a notably greater extent of russet than Downing indicates.
Flesh and Flavor: Sources give partially conflicting accounts. Downing describes the flesh as buttery, juicy, slightly granular, and perfumed, rating quality as good to very good. Thomas concurs with buttery, juicy, and perfumed, and adds vinous. Hedrick describes the flesh as yellowish, coarse, watery, melting, and granular — characterizing it as coarse and watery where Downing calls it buttery — and the juice as vinous and agreeably perfumed. Quality is given as first (Hedrick).
Core/Seeds: Not described in any source.
Season
October. All three sources agree.
Uses
Not described in any source beyond quality ratings (good to very good, Downing; first, Hedrick).
Subtypes/Variants
Not described in any source.
Other
Not described in any source.
Book Sources
Described in 3 period pomological works
- Hedrick, The Pears of New York (1921)
- Downing, Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900) — listed as Des Chasseurs
- Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903) — listed as Poire de Chasseurs
View original book sources (3)
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Des Chasseurs.
Chasseurs. Sportsman. Poire des Chasseurs. Hunter.
This Belgian Pear is supposed to be one of Van Mons' seedlings. The tree is moderately vigorous, somewhat spreading, productive. Young shoots warm yellow brown.
Fruit medium, pyriform, sometimes obtuse. Skin greenish yellow, covered with minute dots, and a few patches of russet. Stalk long, enlarged at its junction, without depression. Calyx small. Basin shallow. Flesh buttery, juicy, slightly granular, perfumed. Good to very good. October.
— John J. Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)Poire de Chasseurs. Medium, short pyriform, greenish-yellow; juicy, buttery, perfumed, vinous. October. Belgian.
[Additional entry in this volume: "Poire des Chasseurs", pp. 800–800]
Poire de Chasseurs. Medium, short pyriform, greenish-yellow; juicy, buttery, perfumed, vinous. October. Belgian.
— U.P. Hedrick, The Pears of New York (1921)Poire des Chasseurs,
- Ann. Pom. Belge 5:31, fig. 1857. Des Chasseurs. 2. Downing Fr. Trees Am. 735. 1869.
A posthumous gain of Van Mons tasted for the first time in 1842 and reported on by M. Simon Bouvier of Jodoigne, Bel. Fruit medium to large, ovate-pyriform, greenish, dotted with russet, and much stained with russet on the sun-exposed side; flesh yellowish, coarse, watery, melting, granular; juice vinous, agreeably perfumed; first; Oct.