Selleck
PearOrigin/History
The origin of Selleck is somewhat uncertain. The oldest known bearing tree of the variety stood on the grounds of Columbus Selleck, Sudbury, Vermont, and was healthy, very productive, and described by Elliott as about 30 years old at the time of his writing (1865). Hedrick, writing in 1921, noted the tree had been standing "some thirty years ago," indicating it was still known in the 1890s.
Tree
A free, thrifty grower, healthy and very productive (Elliott). Leaves small (Elliott). Young wood grayish olive brown (Downing). Shoots slender, brownish-yellow (Thomas).
Fruit
Size: Large.
Form: Sources vary slightly in their description: obovate obtuse pyriform (Downing, Hedrick); ovate obovate obtuse pyriform, angular ribbed (Elliott); obtuse-pyriform (Diel-shaped), ribbed (Thomas). Surface uneven.
Skin: Fine yellow, sometimes with a crimson cheek, and thickly sprinkled with russet dots. Elliott adds that the area at the stem insertion is slightly russeted.
Stem: Long and curved, fleshy at its insertion (Downing, Thomas). Elliott describes the stem as medium length rather than long, curved, fleshy at insertion. Set in a moderate cavity (Downing, Thomas).
Calyx: Nearly closed (Downing, Elliott). Thomas describes it as closed.
Basin: Rather small and uneven.
Flesh/Flavor: White, a little coarse (Downing, Hedrick), juicy and melting, sweet, aromatic. Thomas describes the flesh as white, juicy, melting, rich, aromatic, and rates it "excellent." Downing and Hedrick rate it "good to very good." Elliott rates it "very good" and notes it "promises valuable for market."
Core/Seeds: Core small (Elliott). Not otherwise described.
Season
September and October. Elliott gives October only.
Uses
Elliott notes the variety promises to be valuable for market.
Subtypes/Variants
Not described in source.
Other
Not described in source.
Book Sources
Described in 4 period pomological works
View original book sources (4)
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Selleck.
Origin somewhat uncertain. The oldest bearing tree stands on the grounds of Columbus Selleck, Sudbury, Vt., and is of healthy growth, and very productive. Young wood grayish olive brown.
Fruit large, obovate obtuse pyriform. Surface uneven, fine yellow, sometimes with a crimson cheek, and thickly sprinkled with russet dots. Stalk long and curved, fleshy at its insertion in a moderate cavity. Calyx nearly closed, in a rather small uneven basin. Flesh white, a little coarse, juicy and melting, sweet, aromatic. Good to very good. September, October.
— U.P. Hedrick, The Pears of New York (1921)Selleck.
i. Downing Fr. Trees Am. 854. 1869.
The origin of Selleck is unknown. Some thirty years ago the oldest known bearing tree of the variety was standing on the grounds of Columbus Selleck, Sudbury, Vermont, and was then still healthy and very productive. Fruit large, obovate-obtuse-pyriform, surface uneven; skin a fine yellow, with a crimson cheek and thickly sprinkled with russet dots; flesh white, a little coarse, juicy, melting, sweet, aromatic; good to very good; Sept. and Oct.
— F.R. Elliott, The Western Fruit Book (1865)Selleck.
The origin uncertain. Tree, 30 years old. Mr. Selleck, Columbus, Vt. Tree, healthy, productive ; leaves, small; a free, thrifty grower. Fruit, large, ovate obovate obtuse pyriform, angular ribbed, fine yellow, and crimson cheek, russet dots ; stem, medium, curved, fleshy at insertion, where it is slightly russeted ; calyx, nearly closed ; basin, small, uneven ; flesh, juicy, melting, aromatic; core, small ; "very good ;" promises valuable for market. October.
— John J. Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)Selleck. Large, obtuse-pyriform (Diel-shaped), ribbed; fine yellow, thickly dotted; stalk long, curved, fleshy at insertion; cavity moderate, calyx closed; basin small, uneven; flesh white, juicy, melting, rich, aromatic, excellent. September, October. Shoots slender, brownish-yellow.