Roi de Rome
PearRoi de Rome
Origin / History
Found by the Abbé Duquesnes in Hainaut, Belgium (Downing: "a province of Hainault"), and first fruited in 1810. Hedrick says of the Abbé Duquesnes, "to whom we are beholden for many good fruits." Figured in Annales de Pomologie Belge 6:51 (1858); Hedrick also cites Downing, Fruits and Fruit Trees of America, p. 843 (1869). Under the name of Roi de Rome the Napoleon has been repeatedly received in this country, but, as described in the Annals of Pomology, it is entirely a distinct fruit (Downing).
Tree
Not described in source.
Fruit
Size: Very large.
Form: Regular, oblong ovate pyriform (Downing); pyriform, pyramidal (Hedrick).
Stem: Short; dark gray shading around the stalk (Hedrick).
Cavity: Little or no cavity, but surrounded with slight furrows (Downing).
Calyx: Dark gray shading around the calyx (Hedrick).
Basin: Not described in source.
Skin: Ground clear yellow, marbled with crimson in the sun, specked with russet (Downing); or olive-green, strongly blushed with orange-red on the side next the sun, yellow at maturity on the shaded cheek (Hedrick).
Dots: Many, small, gray (Downing); bright gray on the side next the sun, brown-black on the shaded cheek (Hedrick).
Flesh and flavor: Flesh yellowish white; half fine, melting, juicy, sweet, agreeable (Downing); fine, semi-melting, juice abundant, saccharine, with an agreeable perfume (Hedrick).
Core and seeds: Not described in source.
Season
September to November. Downing gives October, November; Hedrick gives September.
Uses
Hedrick rates it "second for table, first for household."
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)Roi de Rome.
This variety was found in a province of Hainault, Belgium, by M. l'Abbé Duquesnes, and first fruited in 1810. Under the name of Roi de Rome, the Napoleon has been repeatedly received in this country, but, as described in the Annals of Pomology, is entirely a distinct fruit.
Fruit very large, regular, oblong ovate pyriform. Skin clear yellow, marbled with crimson in the sun, specked with russet, and dotted with many small gray dots. Stalk short, set with little or no cavity, but surrounded with slight furrows. Flesh yellowish white, half fine, melting, juicy, sweet, agreeable. October, November.
— U.P. Hedrick, The Pears of New York (1921)Roi de Rome.
- Ann. Pom. Belge 6:51, fig. 1858.
- Downing Fr. Trees Am. 843. 1869.
The Abbé Duquesnes, to whom we are beholden for many good fruits, found this pear in Hainaut, Bel. Fruit very large, pyriform, pyramidal, olive-green, with dark gray shading around the stalk and calyx, strongly blushed with orange-red and dotted with bright gray on the side next the sun, and yellow at maturity on the shaded cheek, with brown-black dots; flesh fine, semi-melting, yellowish-white; juice abundant, saccharine, with an agreeable perfume; second for table, first for household; Sept.