Sieulle

Origin / History

The Sieulle was raised by M. Sieulle in the garden of the Duc de Choisel, of Praslin, and was first brought to notice in 1815. At that period, or soon after, M. Noisette introduced it into his collection at Paris. In 1828 or '29 the Messrs. Prince, of Flushing, introduced it to their collection and disseminated the trees. Its fruiting around Boston was not reported until 1844 or '45, when fine specimens were produced by several cultivators.

The first descriptive account is given in the Bon Jardinier, and Noisette also describes and figures it in his Jardin Fruitier. Lindley does not mention it. It is enumerated in the Catalogue of the London Horticultural Society for 1832 as one of the kinds that had been proved, and is classed there among those of the first quality. The variety is under the names "Doyenné Sieulle" in the Magazine of Horticulture and "Beurré Sieulle" in the Horticultural Society Catalogue, 3d Edition, 1842. Hovey describes it as introduced to notice upwards of thirty years before 1852, and as comparatively a new fruit that does not appear to have been generally known to European pomological writers. He remarks that a variety possessing such excellent qualities should not have attracted more attention or been more generally introduced into collections. "Few pears surpass the Sieulle."

Hovey's painting was made from a beautiful pear received from Mr. G. B. Fowler, of Plymouth, the previous season, whose tree, trained en quenouille, bore abundantly every year. He also received it from the collection of J. P. Cushing, Esq., of Watertown, which contains all the choice pears to be found. On espaliers in Mr. Cushing's garden, very large and beautiful specimens are produced.

Tree

Vigorous, upright, and rather compact, having much of the habit of the White Doyenne. Branches horizontal at first, but afterwards bending upwards and very erect. Wood brownish olive, moderately stout, rather long-jointed, smooth, and regularly speckled with large, grayish white specks. Buds rather prominent, short, full, and pointed. Flower-buds obovate. Leaves medium size, ovate, acuminate, light green, waved on the margin, and very finely and regularly serrated; petioles very long and slender. Flowers medium size, clear white; petals obovate and regularly cupped.

The tree thrives well either upon the quince or the pear stock, but the finest specimens yet seen were grown upon the quince. Trained en quenouille, it bears abundantly every year. On espaliers it produces very large and beautiful fruit.

Fruit

Size: Large, about two and a half inches long and two and a half inches in diameter.

Form: Roundish, a little irregular, sometimes depressed, tapering slightly towards the stem.

Stem: Medium length, about three quarters of an inch, very stout, straight, and smooth, rather deeply sunk in a cavity formed by a swollen lip or projection on one side.

Cavity: Formed by a swollen lip or projection on one side, in which the stem is rather deeply sunk.

Calyx: Eye medium size, open, and slightly depressed in a shallow basin; segments of the calyx broad and reflexed.

Basin: Shallow; the eye is slightly depressed in it.

Skin: Fair, smooth, dull yellow and pale green, becoming very broadly shaded and marbled with bright red on the sunny side, and regularly covered with large, reddish russet specks, thickest where exposed.

Dots: Not described in source.

Flesh and flavor: White, fine, melting, and very juicy. Flavor rich, saccharine, vinous, refreshing, perfumed, and excellent. Though not quite so melting as the White Doyenne, to which it is allied, it possesses the same rich, sprightly, and refreshing flavor.

Core and seeds: Core large. Seeds large, dark brown.

Season

Ripe in November, and keeps till January. Hovey states that it comes in at a more desirable season than the White Doyenne and keeps from four to six weeks.

Uses

Not described in source.

Subtypes / Variants

Not described in source.

Other

The variety is figured in the Jardin Fruitier, plate lxxix, and described in the Bon Jardinier, 1828, and in the Magazine of Horticulture, vol. xii, p. 175. The illustration in the source is from a specimen grown by Mr. Fowler.