Sapieganka
PearSapieganka
Origin/History
Sapieganka originated in northern Poland, according to Hedrick, and was introduced into the United States in 1879. Hedrick notes a suspicion that it may be the Bergamotte d'Été renamed after a Polish nobleman. Budd & Hansen attribute the variety to Russia, placing it in conflict with Hedrick's northern Poland origin. The Central Experimental Farm at Agassiz, British Columbia, planted it in the spring of 1890.
Hedrick cites early references including the Montana Horticultural Society Report (1881–82), the California Commission of Horticulture Pear Growers of California (1914), and the Iowa Horticultural Society Report (1882). Budd & Hansen's text also includes the name "Rostiezer" in close association with the variety entry, apparently as a related name or cross-reference.
Tree
The Central Experimental Farm describes Sapieganka as a vigorous grower and free bearer.
Regarding hardiness, Hedrick reports that the variety has been found tender in Manitoba and the Northwest, but perfectly hardy at Ottawa and in Muskoka.
Fruit
Size: Medium, by agreement of all three sources.
Form: Budd & Hansen describe the fruit as roundish obtuse pyriform. Hedrick describes it as oblate and often somewhat flattened. The Central Experimental Farm describes it simply as pyriform. Budd & Hansen and Hedrick thus conflict on form — the former suggesting an upright, rounded pear shape, the latter a flattened, oblate form.
Stem: Short and upright (Budd & Hansen).
Cavity: Very shallow (Budd & Hansen).
Basin: Wide and somewhat deep (Budd & Hansen).
Skin: Budd & Hansen describe the color as green with a blushed cheek. The Central Experimental Farm likewise describes the skin as green. Hedrick conflicts with both, describing the fruit as brownish-yellow with brownish-red in the sun, with numerous small dots.
Flesh/Flavor: The sources conflict substantially on flesh character and quality. Budd & Hansen describe the flesh as fine, melting, and good. Hedrick describes it as white, coarse, somewhat firm, and juicy, and rates it poor quality both for dessert and cooking, third for market. The Central Experimental Farm describes it as greenish white, juicy, and astringent, with poor quality.
Core/Seeds: Not described in source.
Season
Hedrick places the season in August. Budd & Hansen give the middle of September, observed in Iowa. The Central Experimental Farm gives September. Hedrick and the other two sources thus conflict on ripening time.
Uses
Hedrick rates Sapieganka poor quality for both dessert and cooking, and third for market. The Central Experimental Farm concurs in rating quality poor. Budd & Hansen dissent, rating the quality good.
Subtypes/Variants
Not described in source.
Other
Not described in source.
Book Sources
Described in 2 period pomological works
Nursery Catalog Sources
Found in 1 catalog (1900)
- Central Experimental Farm , Dominion Department of Agriculture, Agassiz, British Columbia (under test; Bulletin No. 3, Second Series) — 1900
View original book sources (3)
— J.L. Budd & N.E. Hansen, American Horticultural Manual, Part II: Systematic Pomology (1914)Sapieganka.—Medium, roundish obtuse pyriform; color green, with blushed cheek; stem short, upright, in very shallow cavity; basin
Rostiezer.
wide and somewhat deep. Flesh fine, melting, good. Season, middle of September in Iowa. Russia.
— U.P. Hedrick, The Pears of New York (1921)Sapieganka.
- Mont. Hort. Soc. Rpt. 56, fig. 1881-2. 2. Cal. Com. Hort. Pear Grow. Cal. 7: No. 5, 179. 1914. Bergamotte Sapieganka. 3. Ia. Hort. Soc. Rpt. 83. 1882.
Originated in northern Poland and introduced into this country in 1879. There is a suspicion that it may be the Bergamotte d'Été renamed after a Polish nobleman. It has been found tender in Manitoba and the Northwest, but perfectly hardy at Ottawa and in Muskoka. Fruit medium, oblate, often somewhat flattened, brownish-yellow, with brownish-red in the sun, with numerous small dots; flesh white, coarse, somewhat firm and juicy; poor quality both for dessert and cooking, third for market; Aug.
— Central Experimental Farm, Central Experimental Farm, Agassiz BC — Catalogue of Fruit Trees under Test (Bulletin No. 3, 1900) (1900)Planted Spring 1890. Tree a vigorous grower and free bearer. Fruit of medium size, pyriform. Skin green. Flesh greenish white, juicy, astringent, quality poor. Season September.