Shurtleff

Pear

Shurtleff

Origin/History

A seedling raised by S. A. Shurtleff of Brookline, Massachusetts, first fruiting in 1863. Described in the Massachusetts Horticultural Society Report of 1866. Also known as Shurtleff's Seedling. Elliott (1865) places its origin as American, native of Boston.

Tree

Vigorous, a good bearer (Elliott). Described in the Massachusetts Horticultural Society Report as a most prolific bearer (via Hedrick).

Fruit

Size and Form: Short diameter 2¾ inches; long diameter 3 inches (Massachusetts Horticultural Society Report, via Hedrick); medium (Elliott). The two sources give conflicting shape descriptions: the Massachusetts Horticultural Society Report describes the fruit as short pyriform, while Elliott describes it as roundish obovate.

Stem: Rather long, swollen at base (Elliott).

Cavity: Not described in source.

Calyx: Large, open (Elliott).

Basin: Not described in source.

Skin: The two sources partially agree but differ in detail. The Massachusetts Horticultural Society Report describes the skin as yellow with a red cheek. Elliott gives a more detailed account: greenish yellow, russeted at the stem, dotted with russet specks, with a dark red cheek in sun.

Flesh and Flavor: The two sources conflict on texture. The Massachusetts Horticultural Society Report describes the flesh as rather dry and firm. Elliott describes the flesh as white, coarse, melting, and juicy, but gritty at the core.

Core and Seeds: Core large (Elliott).

Season

September (Elliott). The Massachusetts Horticultural Society Report (via Hedrick) notes that the fruit keeps soundly without extra care until May, indicating good keeping quality.

Uses

Not described in source.

Subtypes/Variants

Not described in source.

Book Sources

Described in 2 period pomological works

View original book sources (2)

Shurtleff.

i. Mass. Hort. Soc. Rpt. 44. 1866.

A seedling raised by S. A. Shurtleff, Brookline, Mass. "Fruited in 1863. Short diam. 2¾ inches; long diam. 3 inches; flesh rather dry, and firm; skin yellow with red cheek; keeps soundly without extra care until May. A most prolific bearer. Short pyriform."

— U.P. Hedrick, The Pears of New York (1921)

Shurtleff. Shurtleff's Seedling. American. Native of Boston. Tree, vigorous, good bearer. Fruit, medium, roundish obovate, greenish yellow, russeted at stem, dotted with russet specks, dark red cheek in sun ; stem, rather long, swollen at base ; calyx, large, open ; core, large ; flesh, white, coarse, melting, juicy, gritty at core. September.

— F.R. Elliott, The Western Fruit Book (1865)

Shurtleff's Seedling