Rallay

Pear

Origin/History

An old variety of unknown origin. Elliott received specimens from Messrs. Ellwanger and Barry, from which he took his description, noting he had never before seen the variety despite believing it to be old (Elliott, 1865). Both Downing (1900) and Hedrick (1921) cite Elliott as their source.

Tree

Not described in source.

Fruit

Size: Small to medium (Elliott, Downing, Hedrick). Medium (Thomas).

Form: Globular acute pyriform (Elliott, Downing, Hedrick). Short pyriform (Thomas).

Skin: Rough, dull yellow, with a dull reddish cheek and spots of russet over the whole surface (Elliott, Downing, Hedrick). Yellow, thinly russeted (Thomas).

Stem: Slender, obliquely set without depression (Elliott).

Cavity: No depression; stem obliquely set (Elliott).

Calyx: With crumpled segments (Elliott).

Basin: Not described in source.

Flesh/Flavor: Yellowish white, breaking, juicy, gritty at core (Elliott). Yellowish white, breaking, juicy, gritty (Downing, Hedrick). Quality rated "good" by all sources. Thomas disagrees on texture, describing the flesh as buttery and melting — the opposite of the breaking, gritty character reported by Elliott, Downing, and Hedrick.

Core/Seeds: Core large (Elliott).

Season

November and December (Elliott, Downing, Hedrick). Winter (Thomas).

Uses

Not described in source.

Book Sources

Described in 4 period pomological works

View original book sources (4)

Rallay.

An old variety, of unknown origin.

Fruit small to medium, globular acute pyriform. Skin rough, dull yellow, dull reddish cheek, and over all spots of russet. Flesh yellowish white, breaking, juicy, gritty. Good. November, December. (Elliott.)

— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)

Rallay.

Elliott Fr. Book 382. 1854.

An old variety of unknown origin. Fruit small to medium, globular-acute-pyriform; skin rough, dull yellow, dull reddish cheek, dotted all over with russet; flesh yellowish-white, breaking, juicy, gritty; good; Nov. and Dec.

— U.P. Hedrick, The Pears of New York (1921)

Rallay.

We received specimens (from which we take our description) of this pear from Messrs. Ellwanger and Barry. It is, we believe, an old variety, but we had never before seen it. Fruit, small to medium, globular acute pyriform ; skin, rough, dull yellow, dull reddish cheek, over the whole spots of russet; stem, slender, obliquely set without depression; calyx, with crumpled segments; core, large; flesh, yellowish white, breaking, juicy, gritty at core ; "good." November, December.

— F.R. Elliott, The Western Fruit Book (1865)

Rallay. Medium, short pyriform, yellow, thinly russeted; buttery, melting; good. Winter.

— John J. Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)