Sweet Pear
Apple
Sweet Pear
Origin/History
Origin uncertain. Warder (1867) notes that specimens were obtained from the orchards of H. P. Kimball and his father-in-law, Dr. George Haskell — both described as zealous pomologists — at Rockford, Illinois. Downing (1900) likewise gives the origin as unknown. Despite its name, this is an apple variety, apparently so called for its pear-like form.
Tree
Not described by Warder. Downing describes the tree as a vigorous, upright grower, very hardy and productive.
Fruit
Size: Medium to large (Warder); medium (Downing).
Form: Round, somewhat conic, regular (Warder). Roundish conical (Downing).
Stem: Long, rather slender, green (Warder). Short (Downing). The two sources conflict directly on stem length.
Cavity: Deep, acute, wavy, green (Warder).
Calyx: Small but long, closed (Warder). Closed (Downing).
Basin: Quite shallow, plaited (Warder).
Skin: Surface smooth, yellowish-green, blushed, with numerous, minute, gray, indented dots and red spots (Warder). Pale yellow, with dull blush red in the sun (Downing).
Flesh/Flavor: Flesh greenish-white (Warder) — white (Downing); breaking, fine grained, juicy (Warder); tender, juicy (Downing). Flavor sweet, aromatic (both sources). Quality good to best (Warder); very good (Downing).
Core/Seeds: Core small, round, somewhat open, clasping the eye. Seeds numerous, medium, pointed (Warder).
Season
October (Warder). September–October (Downing).
Uses
Table (Warder).
Subtypes/Variants
Not described in source.
Other
The Encyclopedia of Practical Horticulture (1914) lists the variety in a coded variety-characteristic table but provides no prose description:
Description absent; variety present in variety-characteristic table.
Sweet Pear. M | re | y | VG | f | A | 1* | 1* | ......
Book Sources
Described in 3 period pomological works
Nursery Catalog Sources
Found in 1 catalog (1904) from Illinois
- Phoenix Nursery Company (W. E. Rossney , President; Sidney Tuttle, Vice-President), Bloomington , Illinois — 1904
View original book sources (3)
— John A. Warder, American Pomology: Apples (1867)Sweet Pear.
The origin of this fruit is uncertain; the specimens were obtained in the orchard of H. P. Kimball, and his father-in-law, Dr. George Haskell—zealous pomologists at Rockford, Illinois.
Fruit medium to large, round, somewhat conic, regular; Surface smooth, yellowish-green, blushed; Dots numerous, minute, gray, indented; red spots.
Basin quite shallow, plaited; Eye small, but long, closed.
Cavity deep, acute, wavy, green; Stem long, rather slender, green.
Core small, round, somewhat open, clasping the eye; Seeds numerous, medium, pointed; Flesh greenish-white, breaking, fine grained, juicy; Flavor sweet, aromatic; Quality good to best; Use, table; Season, October.
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Sweet Pear. Origin unknown. Tree a vigorous, upright grower, very hardy and productive. Fruit medium, roundish conical, pale yellow, with dull blush red in the sun. Stalk short. Calyx closed. Flesh white, tender, juicy, sweet, aromatic. Very good. September, October.
— Granville Lowther (ed.), Encyclopedia of Practical Horticulture (1914)Sweet Pear. M | re | y | VG | f | A | 1* | 1* | ......