President Mas
PearPresident Mas
Origin/History
First reported in 1865 as having been raised by M. Boisbunel, horticulturist at Rouen, France, and adopted by the Pomological Congress of France (Hedrick). Thomas likewise identifies it as French. Downing, however, describes it as a new Belgian variety — a conflict unresolved across the sources. Downing cites Transon's Catalogue as his source for the original description.
Tree
Not described in sources.
Fruit
Size and Form: Large, sometimes very large (Hedrick). Downing describes the form as oblong obovate obtuse pyriform; Hedrick as ovate-conic-obtuse and bossed round the stalk; Thomas as pyriform.
Stem: Bossed (irregular or knobby) around the stalk end (Hedrick).
Cavity: Not described in sources.
Calyx: Not described in sources.
Basin: The area around the eye is marbled with fawn (Hedrick).
Skin: The sources give conflicting ground color. Downing describes it as greenish yellow with some patches and traces of russet. Hedrick describes it as rough, yellowish-green, much dotted with russet, marbled with fawn around the eye. Thomas gives orange yellow with russet — noticeably warmer than the greenish-yellow of Downing and Hedrick.
Flesh and Flavor: Whitish to yellowish white (Downing: yellowish white; Hedrick: whitish), fine, melting, juicy. Flavor described as sweet and buttery (Downing); sugary, vinous, and very pleasantly perfumed, rated very good (Hedrick); juicy, melting, and sweet (Thomas).
Core/Seeds: Not described in sources.
Season
November to January (Hedrick). December and January (Downing). Early winter (Thomas).
Uses
Not described in sources.
Subtypes/Variants
Not described in sources.
Book Sources
Described in 3 period pomological works
View original book sources (3)
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)President Mas.
A new Belgian variety.
Fruit large, oblong obovate obtuse pyriform. Skin greenish yellow, with some patches and traces of russet. Flesh yellowish white, fine, juicy, melting, buttery, sweet. December, January. (Transon's Cat.)
— U.P. Hedrick, The Pears of New York (1921)President Mas.
- Downing Fr. Trees Am. 836. 1869.
- Cat. Cong. Pom. France 333, fig. 1906.
First reported in 1865 as having been raised by M. Boisbunel, horticulturist at Rouen, Fr., and adopted by the Pomological Congress of France. Fruit large, sometimes very large, ovate-conic-obtuse and bossed round the stalk; skin rough, yellowish-green, much dotted with russet, marbled with fawn around the eye; flesh whitish, fine, melting, juicy with a sugary flavor, vinous and very pleasantly perfumed; very good; Nov. to Jan.
— John J. Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)President Mas. Large, pyriform, orange yellow with russet; juicy, melting and sweet. Early winter. French.