Tonneau
PearTonneau
Origin / History
Duhamel described the Tonneau in his Traité des arbres fruitiers (1768), vol. 2, p. 237, with an illustration on Pl. LVIII, fig. 5. Hogg's Fruit Manual (1884), p. 656, also lists it. Christ's Handbuch (1817), p. 564, gives the German name Fassbirne. The French word tonneau and the German Fass are both translated "cask," a term that describes the shape of the fruit very well.
Leroy and others confused the Tonneau with Uvedale St. Germain. Hogg and Mas agree that the two are quite distinct.
Tree
Tree vigorous; shoots upright. Leaves pubescent, light green; young leaves yellowish-green.
Fruit
Size: Very large.
Form: Oblong-ovate or cask-shaped.
Stem: An inch long, straight, woody.
Cavity: Deep, irregular.
Calyx: Large, open.
Basin: Deep, wide.
Skin: Clear yellow.
Dots: Not described in source.
Flesh and flavor: Flesh very white, rather dry. Flavor brisk.
Core and seeds: Not described in source.
Season
Nov. to Feb.
Uses
A large cooking pear. More an ornament than a dessert fruit.
Subtypes / Variants
Not described in source.
Other
Not described in source.
Book Sources
Described in 1 period pomological work
View original book sources (1)
— U.P. Hedrick, The Pears of New York (1921)Tonneau.
- Duhamel Trait. Arb. Fr. 2:237, Pl. LVIII, fig. 5. 1768.
- Hogg Fruit Man. 656. 1884. Fassbirne. 3. Christ Handb. 564. 1817.
This large cooking pear has been confused by Leroy and others with Uvedale St. Germain, but Hogg and Mas agree that the two are quite distinct. The French word tonneau and the German word fass are both translated "cask," a term which describes the shape of this pear very well. Tree vigorous; shoots upright; leaves pubescent, light green, young leaves yellowish-green. Fruit very large, oblong-ovate or cask-shaped; skin clear yellow; calyx large, open; basin deep, wide; stalk an inch long, straight, woody; cavity deep, irregular; flesh very white, rather dry; flavor brisk; more an ornament than a dessert fruit; Nov. to Feb.