Roe's Bergamot
PearRoe's Bergamot
Origin/History
Raised by William Roe, Newburgh, New York. First recorded in Downing's Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1869). Also described under the French name Bergamotte de Roe in Mas, Pom. Gen. 1:117, fig. 59 (1872).
Tree
Downing describes the tree as moderately vigorous and very productive; Hedrick characterizes it as fairly vigorous and prolific. Young wood is reddish yellow-brown (Downing).
Fruit
Size and Form: Medium in size. Form oblate or Bergamot-shaped. Hedrick notes the form is rather irregular.
Stem: Short, inserted in a narrow, abrupt cavity (Downing).
Cavity: Narrow and abrupt (Downing).
Calyx: Small, with short stiff segments (Downing).
Basin: Narrow (Downing).
Skin: Smooth, yellow, with minute yellow dots on the shaded side. On the sunny side, Downing describes the skin as mottled and clouded with red; Hedrick describes it as washed with red.
Flesh and Flavor: Flesh rather coarse and melting (Downing; Hedrick omits "melting"). Flavor sweet, rich, brisk, and well-perfumed (Downing; Hedrick describes it simply as sweet, rich, and perfumed). Both sources note the flavor is strongly suggestive of Gansel's Bergamot but considerably more sugary. Quality rated good to very good.
Core/Seeds: Not described in source.
Season
September.
Uses
Not described in source.
Subtypes/Variants
Not described in source.
Other
Not described in source.
Book Sources
Described in 2 period pomological works
View original book sources (2)
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Roe's Bergamot.
Raised by William Roe, Newburgh, N. Y. Tree moderately vigorous, very productive. Young wood reddish yellow brown.
Fruit medium, oblate or Bergamotte-shaped. Skin smooth, yellow, with minute yellow dots in the shade, mottled and clouded with red on the sunny side. Stalk short, inserted in a narrow, abrupt cavity. Calyx small, with short stiff segments, set in a narrow basin. Flesh rather coarse, melting, with a sweet, rich, brisk, well-perfumed flavor. The flavor of this excellent new Pear is extremely like Gansel's Bergamotte, but much more sugary. Good to very good. September.
— U.P. Hedrick, The Pears of New York (1921)Roe Bergamot. i. Downing Fr. Trees Am. 843. 1869. Bergamotte de Roe. 2. Mas Pom. Gen. 1:117, fig. 59. 1872. Raised by William Roe, Newburgh, N. Y. Fruit medium in size, form oblate or Bergamot-shaped, rather irregular; skin smooth, yellow, with minute yellow dots on the shaded side, washed with red on the side of the sun; flesh rather coarse, sweet, rich, perfumed flavor suggestive of Gansel Bergamot but much more sugary; good to very good; Sept. Tree fairly vigorous and prolific.