Smith
PearSmith
Origin/History
Hedrick identifies Smith as an oriental variety or hybrid, very similar to Le Conte but blooming later, with a reference to Cornell Station Bulletin 332:485 (1913). Budd and Hansen state the origin is not known. The variety was grown extensively in the South and sent North in barrels for culinary use (Budd & Hansen).
Tree
Smith blooms later than Le Conte (Hedrick). No further tree characteristics are described in either source.
Fruit
Size: Medium to large (Hedrick); large (Budd & Hansen).
Form: Oval, truncate at the basin end (Hedrick); roundish ovate (Budd & Hansen).
Stem: Not described in source.
Cavity: Not described in source.
Calyx: Not described in source.
Basin: Truncate (Hedrick). No further detail described.
Skin: Yellowish-green, smooth, with patches of russet (Hedrick). Budd and Hansen describe the color as yellow with red where exposed — conflicting with Hedrick's yellowish-green with russet and no mention of red.
Flesh/Flavor: White, firm, insipid, dry, and mealy; quality poor (Hedrick). Tender, vinous, and astringent; quality scarcely good (Budd & Hansen). These two accounts are in direct conflict on texture, flavor character, and quality.
Core/Seeds: Not described in source.
Season
October (Hedrick).
Uses
Culinary. Grown South and shipped North in barrels (Budd & Hansen).
Subtypes/Variants
Not described in source.
Other
Not described in source.
Book Sources
Described in 2 period pomological works
Nursery Catalog Sources
Found in 2 catalogs (1901–1913) from Illinois
- Benjamin Buckman (personal inventory) , Farmingdale , Illinois — 1901
- Benjamin Buckman (personal inventory) , Farmingdale , Illinois — 1913
View original book sources (2)
— U.P. Hedrick, The Pears of New York (1921)Smith,
i. Cornell Sta. Bul. 332:485, fig. 1913.
An oriental variety or hybrid, very similar to Le Conte but blooms later. Fruit medium to large, oval, truncate at basin end; skin yellowish-green, smooth, with patches of russet; flesh white, firm, insipid, dry, mealy; poor; Oct.
— J.L. Budd & N.E. Hansen, American Horticultural Manual, Part II: Systematic Pomology (1914)Smith. — Large, roundish ovate; color yellow with red where exposed. Flesh tender, vinous, astringent, scarcely good. Grown South quite extensively and sent North in barrels for culinary use. Origin not known.