Ravenswood
PearRavenswood
Origin/History
Ravenswood originated as a seedling found in the woods of Astoria, Long Island, and was transplanted to the grounds of Charles Ehrard. The name derives from Ravenswood, the locality on Long Island where it was discovered. It was recorded in the American Pomological Society Report (196, 1858). Hedrick (1921) notes it was "superior to most pears of its period."
Tree
A vigorous grower, with grayish olive brown young shoots (Downing). A great bearer (Elliott).
Fruit
Size and Form: Small (Downing, Hedrick), or small to medium (Elliott). Form obovate-pyriform (Downing, Hedrick), described by Elliott as obtuse pyramidal, tending to obovate.
Stem: Short (Downing); very short and thick (Elliott).
Calyx: Partially closed, with persistent segments (Downing).
Basin: Not described in source.
Cavity: Not described in source.
Skin: Pale yellow, sometimes with a tinge of red in the sun, and thickly sprinkled with green dots (Downing, Hedrick).
Flesh and Flavor: Whitish, slightly coarse (Downing, Hedrick). Juicy, melting, and slightly vinous (Downing); described by Hedrick as extremely full of vinous, carbonated juice with a rich aromatic flavor, and by Elliott as possessing a rich aromatic flavor and great abundance of vinous carbonated juice. Quality rated good to very good (Downing, Hedrick).
Core/Seeds: Not described in source.
Season
Mid-July to mid-August (Hedrick, Elliott). Downing gives the season as early August, which may reflect a narrower ripening window at a specific locality.
Uses
Not described in source.
Subtypes/Variants
Not described in source.
Book Sources
Described in 3 period pomological works
View original book sources (3)
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)RAVENSWOOD.
Origin, Ravenswood, Long Island. Tree a vigorous grower, with grayish olive brown, young shoots.
Fruit small, obovate pyriform. Skin pale yellow, sometimes a tinge of red in the sun, and thickly sprinkled with green dots. Stalk short. Calyx partially closed, with persistent segments. Flesh whitish, slightly coarse, juicy, melting, slightly vinous. Good to very good. Early August.
— U.P. Hedrick, The Pears of New York (1921)Ravenswood. i. Am. Pom. Soc. Rpt. 196. 1858.
Ravenswood was a seedling found in the woods of Astoria, L. I., and transplanted to the grounds of Charles Ehrard. Fruit small, obovate-pyriform, pale yellow, with sometimes a tinge of red in the sun and thickly sprinkled with green dots; flesh whitish, slightly coarse, extremely full of vinous, carbonated juice, with a rich aromatic flavor; good to very good, superior to most pears of its period; mid-July to mid-Aug.
— F.R. Elliott, The Western Fruit Book (1865)Ravenswood.
Fruit, obtuse pyramidal, tending to obovate, small to medium in size, with a very short, thick stem ; ripening from the middle of July to middle of August; rich aromatic flavor, and great abundance of vinous carbonated juice. It is a great bearer. It is a seedling found in the woods of Astoria, and planted on the grounds of Mr. Charles Ehrard.