St. Swithin
PearSt. Swithin
Origin/History
St. Swithin was raised by Rivers of Sawbridgeworth Nurseries, England, from a seed of Calebasse Tougard, and was introduced before 1884 (Bunyard). It was described and figured in the Journal of Horticulture 35:149, fig. 20, in 1878 (Hedrick). Specimens were under test at the Central Experimental Farm, Agassiz, BC, planted in spring 1893.
Tree
The tree is a strong grower (Central Experimental Farm). Not further described in the book sources.
Fruit
Size
Sources conflict on size. Hedrick describes the fruit as below medium; Bunyard gives medium; the Central Experimental Farm reports small.
Form
Pyriform (Bunyard; Central Experimental Farm); obovate or pyriform (Hedrick).
Stem
Stout, one inch long (Bunyard). Not described in the other sources.
Cavity
Not described in sources.
Calyx
Eye closed (Bunyard). Not further described.
Basin
Very shallow (Bunyard). Not described in the other sources.
Skin
Smooth (Bunyard; Hedrick). Color is pale green (Bunyard), grass-green (Hedrick), or green (Central Experimental Farm). Sources conflict on the extent of russet: Bunyard states the skin is almost covered with fine russet; Hedrick describes it as thickly dotted and mottled with russet; the Central Experimental Farm notes only a few russet dots. On the sun-exposed side: fairly red (Bunyard); sometimes a faint blush (Hedrick).
Flesh and Flavor
Greenish white, melting, sweet and refreshing (Bunyard). Yellowish-white with a greenish tinge, tender, juicy and sweet, with a fine, brisk flavor (Hedrick). White, juicy, buttery, with a fine flavour (Central Experimental Farm).
Core and Seeds
Not described in sources.
Season
July to August (Bunyard; Hedrick). Last of August (Central Experimental Farm).
Uses
Dessert (Bunyard). Quality rated good, and superior to Doyenné d'Été (Hedrick). Bunyard notes: "A nice fruit, valued for its earliness, but there are better at this season."
Subtypes/Variants
Not described in sources.
Other
Not described in sources.
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)
— E.A. Bunyard, A Handbook of Hardy Fruits (1920)ST. SWITHIN. Dessert, July to August, medium, pyriform. Skin, smooth, pale green, almost covered with fine russet and fairly red on one side. Flesh, greenish white, melting, sweet and refreshing. Eye, closed in a very shallow basin. Stem, stout, one inch long. A nice fruit, valued for its earliness, but there are better at this season. Raised by Messrs. Rivers from a seed of Calebasse Tougard, and introduced before 1884.
— U.P. Hedrick, The Pears of New York (1921)St. Swithin.
- Jour. Hort. 35:149, fig. 20. 1878. 2. Bunyard Handb. Hardy Fr. 196. 1920.
Raised by Rivers, Sawbridgeworth Nurseries, Eng., from seed of Calebasse Tougard.
Fruit below medium, obovate or pyriform; skin smooth, grass-green, thickly dotted and mottled with russet and sometimes with a faint blush on the side next the sun; flesh yellowish-white, with a greenish tinge, tender, juicy and sweet, with a fine, brisk flavor; good, superior to Doyenne d'Ete; July and Aug.
— Central Experimental Farm, Central Experimental Farm, Agassiz BC — Catalogue of Fruit Trees under Test (Bulletin No. 3, 1900) (1900)Planted Spring 1893. Tree a strong grower. Fruit small, obovate, pyriform. Skin green, with a few russet dots. Flesh white, juicy, buttery, with a fine flavour. Season last of August.