Queen of the Low Countries
PearQueen of the Low Countries
Origin/History
A seedling raised by Van Mons (Downing). Belgian in origin (Thomas). Elliott, writing in 1865, notes he had the variety under cultivation for ten years without managing to fruit it, condensing his description from Downing.
Tree
Not described in sources.
Fruit
Size: Large, often very large (Downing, Elliott); large (Thomas).
Form: Broad acute pyriform (Downing); obovate acute pyriform (Elliott, condensing Downing); neck narrow, body broad or slightly oblate, resembling the Bosc in shape (Thomas). Surface slightly uneven (Thomas).
Stem: One and a half inches long, curved (Elliott, Thomas). Thomas adds that it is not sunk into the cavity.
Cavity: Not described in sources.
Calyx: Small (Elliott, Thomas). Rather deep-set (Thomas).
Basin: Deep (Elliott); ribbed (Thomas).
Skin: Dull yellow in the shade, dotted and russeted around the eye (Downing); dull greenish-yellow, crown russeted, with numerous and often confluent russet dots (Thomas). On the sun side, Downing and Elliott describe the fruit as overspread with fine dark red; Thomas describes only a slight blush — the degree of red coloring may vary with season or exposure.
Flesh and Flavor: White (Downing, Elliott), buttery, melting, and juicy (all three sources). Downing characterizes the flavor as rich, subacid, and vinous, but notes it is variable and sometimes poor. Thomas describes it as moderately rich and sub-acid, with a second-rate Brown Beurré flavor.
Core/Seeds: Not described in sources.
Season
Ripe in October (Downing); early October (Elliott); mid-autumn (Thomas).
Uses
Not described in sources.
Subtypes/Variants
Not described in sources.
Other
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)QUEEN OF THE LOW COUNTRIES.
Reine des Pays Bas.
A seedling of Van Mons'.
Fruit large, often very large, broad acute pyriform. Skin in the shade dull yellow, dotted and russeted around the eye, and overspread with fine dark red on the side next the sun. Flesh white, buttery, melting, and juicy, with a rich, subacid, vinous flavor. Variable, sometimes poor. Ripe in October.
— F.R. Elliott, The Western Fruit Book (1865)Queen of the Low Countries.
Reine des Pays Bas.
Foreign. We have often examined this sort, but have been unable as yet to fruit it in ten years that we have had the variety. We condense our description from Downing. Fruit, large, obovate acute pyriform, dull yellow, dotted and russeted, dark red in sun ; stem, one and a half inch long, curved ; calyx, small ; basin, deep ; flesh, white, buttery, melting, juicy, vinous, sub-acid. Early October.
— John J. Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)Queen of the Low Countries. Large pyriform, neck narrow, body broad or slightly oblate (Bosc-shaped); surface slightly uneven, dull greenish-yellow, crown russeted, with numerous, often confluent russet dots, and a slight blush; stalk an inch and a half long, curved, not sunk; calyx small, rather deep-set, basin ribbed; buttery, melting, juicy, moderately rich, sub-acid, with a second-rate, Brown Beurré flavor. Mid-autumn. Belgian.