Princess
PearPrincess
Origin/History
Princess was raised by Messrs. Rivers, Sawbridgeworth, England, from a seed of Louise Bonne de Jersey. It is recorded in the Journal of Horticulture N.S. 3:260 (1882).
Tree
Growth is upright and pyramidal (Bunyard); Hedrick describes it as compact and upright. It is a free bearer, dependable even in poor seasons, and valued for market culture. Hedrick notes it is well suited for growing as a cordon. Veitch describes it as a good bearer and hardy, very fine on a wall, but requiring a warm position to secure fine fruit. Bunyard observes that the leaf is almost exactly like that of Louise Bonne.
Fruit
Size and Form: Bunyard gives the size as medium, approximately 2½ inches wide by 4 inches long. Hedrick also calls it medium. Veitch, however, describes it as large and handsome — a conflict with the other two sources. The form is long-conical and even (Bunyard), or long-pyriform, tapering almost to the stalk, not very symmetrical (Hedrick).
Stem: Not described in source.
Cavity: Not described in source.
Calyx: Not described in source.
Basin: Not described in source.
Skin: Smooth (Bunyard; Hedrick says smooth and shining, rarely russety). The two sources differ on color: Bunyard describes the skin as pale yellow with a red-brown flush, comparing it to Louise Bonne; Hedrick describes it as green and pale green with a brownish tinge, with dark green dots visible under the skin.
Flesh and Flavor: Flesh is melting and juicy (both sources); Hedrick specifies it is white. The sources conflict on flavor character: Bunyard calls it sweet and refreshing, while Hedrick describes it as briskly acid. Both rate it very good.
Core and Seeds: Not described in source.
Season
Bunyard places it in November to December. Hedrick gives a broader and variable window of October to Christmas, noting it is rather variable in season.
Uses
Bunyard classes it as a dessert pear. Hedrick considers it valuable for market culture. Veitch recommends it for wall training, where it excels given a warm position.
Other
Hedrick notes Princess is one to be depended upon in poor seasons. Bunyard calls it a good and free-cropping pear.
Book Sources
Described in 2 period pomological works
Nursery Catalog Sources
Found in 5 catalogs (1900–1917) from England
- George Bunyard & Co. , Royal Nurseries, Maidstone, Kent , England — 1900
- 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
- George Bunyard & Co. , Royal Nurseries, Maidstone, Kent , England — 1917
View original book sources (3)
— E.A. Bunyard, A Handbook of Hardy Fruits (1920)PRINCESS. Dessert, November to December, medium, 2½ by 4, long conical, even. Skin, smooth, pale yellow with red brown flush, much like Louise Bonne, Flesh, melting and juicy sweet and refreshing. Leaf, almost exactly like Louise Bonne. Growth, upright, pyramidal. Raised by Messrs. Rivers from a seed of Louise Bonne. A good and free cropping pear.
Princess de Parme : see Marie Louise.
— U.P. Hedrick, The Pears of New York (1921)Princess. i. Jour. Hort. N. S. 3:260. 1882. 2. Bunyard Handb. Hardy Fr. 194. 1920.
Raised by Messrs. Rivers, Sawbridgeworth, Eng., from seed of Louise Bonne de Jersey. Growth compact, upright, free bearer, valuable for market culture, and one to be depended upon in poor seasons; fine as a cordon. Fruit medium, long-pyriform, tapering almost to stalk, not very symmetrical, smooth and shining, rarely russety, green and pale green with a brownish tinge, dark green dots under the skin; flesh white, juicy and melting, briskly acid; very good; Oct. to Christmas, rather variable in season.
— James Veitch & Sons, Veitch's Fruit Trees (1911) (1911)large and handsome; requires a warm position to secure fine fruit; a good bearer and hardy; very fine on wall.