Suprême Coloma
PearSuprême Coloma
Origin/History
Count Coloma of Mechlin, Belgium, made seed beds in 1786, and from these beds came the Suprême Coloma. Beyond this Belgian origin, Downing classes it as "a foreign Pear, of uncertain origin." It was documented by Mas in Le Verger (1866–73) and by Downing in 1869.
Tree
Vigorous and productive (Downing). Not further described in sources.
Fruit
Size
The sources conflict on size: Downing gives it as medium or below, while Hedrick describes it as above medium.
Form
The sources differ in shape: Downing describes the fruit as nearly globular; Hedrick as ovate, shortened, and obtuse.
Stem
Short (Downing). Not described by Hedrick.
Cavity
Not described in source.
Calyx
Large and open (Downing). Not described by Hedrick.
Basin
Not described in source.
Skin
Delicate (Hedrick). Color described as greenish yellow by Downing, and olive-yellow by Hedrick. Both sources note russet and brown dots, but differ in degree: Downing records a few patches of russet and many green and brown dots, while Hedrick describes the skin as always mottled with greenish-russet and thickly covered with brown dots.
Flesh and Flavor
Whitish, melting (both sources). Downing adds: juicy, buttery, sweet, pleasant, rating the variety Good. Hedrick describes the flesh as fine, nearly free from grit, very full of saccharine juice, acidulous, with a special perfume of much delicacy, rating it first quality.
Core and Seeds
Not described in source.
Season
October (both sources).
Uses
Not described in source.
Subtypes/Variants
Not described in source.
Other
Not described in source.
Book Sources
Described in 2 period pomological works
- Hedrick, The Pears of New York (1921)
- Downing, Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900) — listed as Kopertscher
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 — listed as Kopertscher
View original book sources (2)
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)KOPERTSCHER.
Kossertscher. Beurre Prince de Schwarzenberg. Princiere de Kopertsh. Supreme Coloma.
A foreign Pear, of uncertain origin. Tree vigorous and productive.
Fruit medium or below, nearly globular, greenish yellow, with a few patches of russet, and many green and brown dots. Stalk short. Calyx large, open. Flesh whitish, juicy, buttery, melting, sweet, pleasant. Good. October.
— U.P. Hedrick, The Pears of New York (1921)Suprême Coloma.
- Mas Le Verger 3:Pt. 2, 49, fig. 121. 1866-73. Kofertscher.
- Downing Fr. Trees Am. 796. 1869.
Count Coloma, Mechlin, Bel., made seed beds in 1786. From these beds came the Suprême Coloma, a fruit of exquisite flavor. Fruit above medium, ovate, shortened, obtuse; skin delicate, olive-yellow, always mottled with greenish-russet and thickly covered with brown dots; flesh whitish, fine, melting, nearly free from grit, very full of saccharine juice, acidulous, with a special perfume of much delicacy; first; Oct.