THE TYSON PEAR.

Tyson. Magazine of Horticulture, vol. xii. p. 434.

The Tyson pear, though of very recent introduction to notice, has justly been placed among the best pears which our country has yet produced. Nearly, if not quite, equalling the Seckel in the rich, spicy aroma which distinguishes that delicious variety, it is of larger size, with a more melting flesh, and comes in at an early season, just before the Williams's Bon Chretien, when we have but few fine pears. It is also a most vigorous grower, exceedingly hardy, and an abundant and very regular bearer.

The Tyson pear originated in Jenkintown, near Philadelphia, on the farm of Mr. Jonathan Tyson. It sprang up in a hedge; and about the year 1794, the tree, then an inch or more in diameter, was removed to a more favorable situation. Five or six years after this, it began to produce fruit, which proved so good that several trees were then grafted with it. Suckers were also taken from the original tree, which produced the same fruit, thus showing its seedling origin. The original tree now stands in the village of Jenkintown, and, according to a communication to the Massachusetts Horticultural Society, from Dr. Brinkle, of Philadelphia, who measured the tree last spring, the trunk, at two feet above the ground, was six feet in circumference.

This fine variety was introduced into the vicinity of Boston about the year 1837, or 1838, by the late Dr. Mease, of Philadelphia, and first fruited in 1842, in the garden of the late Wm. Oliver, Esq., of Dorchester, and our drawing is from specimens from this tree, now quite large, and in the possession of Mr. J. H. Welch.

The Tyson is somewhat variable in form, as will be seen by our two outline engravings: often the stem end is much elongated, so as to give it a calabash shape; several specimens have been received from Mr. Manning, all of which partake of this character. The vigorous habit of the tree probably prevents its fruiting as early as some varieties; but it generally comes into bearing the fourth or fifth year. Whether it will succeed upon the quince has not yet been ascertained.

Tree.—Vigorous, erect and upright, of very regular, pyramidal form; branches numerous, quite erect, and thickly clothed with short spurs.

Wood.—Dull reddish brown, sprinkled with whitish specks, not very stout, and short-jointed; old wood somewhat mottled or clouded with yellowish brown; buds medium size, round, tapering to a point, diverging, with rather prominent shoulders: Flower-buds medium size, obovate.

Leaves.—Medium size, ovate, tapering to each end, deep glossy green, little waved on the margin, and finely and regularly serrated; petioles medium length, moderately stout.

Flowers.—Small; petals oblong, cupped, with a rather long claw.

Fruit.—Medium size, about two and a half inches long, and two inches in diameter: Form, pyramidal, but rather variable, sometimes of a calabash form, rounded at the crown, and regularly tapering into the stem: Skin, fair, nearly smooth, dull yellow, brightly shaded with red on the sunny side, somewhat russeted, and irregularly covered with black specks: Stem, long, about one and a half inches, moderately stout, curved, and obliquely attached to the fruit by a fleshy junction, often much swollen on one side: Eye, medium size, open, and slightly sunk in a round, very shallow, basin; segments of the calyx short: Flesh, white, fine, melting, and very juicy: Flavor, rich, very sugary, and delicious, with a high, aromatic perfume, to which we are at a loss to give a name: Core, small: Seeds, small, plump, brown.

Ripe the last of August and beginning of September.

— C.M. Hovey, The Fruits of America (1852)

Tyson.

This fine variety was found in a hedge near Jenkintown, Pa., about 1792-4. The tree is of vigorous, upright growth, with reddish brown wood ; a moderate, regular bearer.

Fruit, rather below medium, roundish pyriform, irregular; color, dull yellow, shaded with red in sun, little russeted, and with numerous black specks ; stem, rather long, moderately stout, curved, and obliquely attached to the fruit by a fleshy junction, swollen on one side : calyx, open, with short segments ; basin, round, shallow; core and seeds, small ; flesh, white, fine-grained, melting, juicy, sugary, aromatic. Thus far succeeds on Quince. August.

— F.R. Elliott, The Western Fruit Book (1865)

Tyson.

A native seedling, found in a hedge on the farm of Jonathan Tyson, of Jenkintown, near Philadelphia. Tree an upright, vigorous grower, but a tardy bearer, very productive. Young wood olive yellow brown.

Fruit medium or below, acute pyriform. Skin clear, deep yellow at full maturity, slightly russeted, with a fine crimson cheek, and numerous minute brown dots. Stalk long and curved, generally inserted by a fleshy ring or lip. Calyx open. Basin shallow. Flesh rather fine, juicy, melting, very sugary, and somewhat aromatic. Very good to best. Ripens last of August and first of September.

— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)

Tyson.* Size medium, conic-pyriform, sometimes approaching obovate; bright yellow, with a reddish-brown softly shaded cheek, often some russet; stalk an inch and a fourth long, inserted into a fleshy prominence abruptly contracted from the rounded neck; basin very shallow, even; flesh of fine texture, buttery, very melting, juicy; flavor nearly sweet, aromatic, slightly perfumed, excellent. Ripens the last two weeks of summer. Shoots quite dark brown, erect, vigorous. The tree does not come soon into bearing. Pennsylvania. Fig. 686.

— John J. Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)

Tyson. — Small to medium, acute pyriform in shape; color bright yellow when ripe, slightly russeted, with crimson cheek and many brown dots; stalk one and one-quarter inches long, inserted by fleshy ring at the top of the narrow neck. Flesh fine-grained, buttery, melting, juicy, quite sweet, aromatic; nearly best. Starred and double-starred in several States. Pennsylvania.

— J.L. Budd & N.E. Hansen, American Horticultural Manual, Part II: Systematic Pomology (1914)

TYSON

1. Mag. Hort. 13:433, fig. 3. 1847. 2. Horticulturist 1:433. 1846-47. 3. Proc. Nat. Con. Fr. Gr. 51. 1848. 4. Hovey Fr. Am. 1:33, Pl. 1851. 5. Downing Fr. Trees Am. 444, fig. 1857. 6. Ibid. 870, fig. 1869. 7. Leroy Dict. Pom. 2:710, fig. 1869. 8. Oberdieck Obst-Sort. 333. 1881. 9. Lauche Deut. Pom. 9: No. 95, Pl. 95. 1883. 10. Ont. Dept. Agr. Fr. Ont. 182, fig. 1914.

Tyson competes with Clapp Favorite as the precursor of the pear season which is really opened by Bartlett. In every character of fruit and tree excepting size and color of fruit, Tyson excels Clapp Favorite. The quality of the fruit far excels that of Clapp Favorite and it is better than that of Bartlett. Indeed, of commonly grown pears, the characters of flesh and flavor are second only to those of the fruits of Seckel. The flesh is melting and juicy, with a spicy, scented sweetness that gives the fruit the charm of individuality. The pears keep longer and ship better than those of Clapp Favorite; their season in New York is from the middle of August to the middle of September. Unfortunately, the pears are but medium in size, and are often poorly colored, both of which defects appear on the fruits of this variety as grown on the grounds of this Station and shown in the accompanying illustration. The tree is the most nearly perfect of that of any pear grown in America — the Kieffer, praiseworthy only in its tree, not excepted. The tree is certainly as hardy as that of any other variety, if not hardier, and resists better than that of any other sort the black scourge of blight. Add to these notable characters large size, great vigor, and fruitfulness, and it is seen that the trees are nearly flawless. The only fault is, and this a comparatively trifling one, that the trees are slow in coming in bearing. Tyson is the best pear of its season for the home orchard, and has much merit for commercial orchards. Were the fruits larger, it would rival Bartlett for the markets. No other variety offers so many good starting points for the pear-breeder.

Tyson originated as a wilding found about 1794 in a hedge on the land of Jonathan Tyson, Jenkintown, Pennsylvania. The tree first bore fruit in 1800. The pears proved to be so good that Mr. Tyson distributed cions among his neighbors, but the variety was not generally disseminated. About 1837, a Doctor Mease of Philadelphia sent cions to B. V. French, Braintree, near Boston, who in turn distributed them among his friends. The variety fruited here about 1842, and the fruit was exhibited before the Massachusetts Horticultural Society under the name Tyson. In 1848, at the National Convention of Fruit-Growers, Tyson was recommended for general cultivation, and since that date the name has appeared continuously in the catalogs of the American Pomological Society.

Tree very large, vigorous, upright-spreading, tall, dense-topped, hardy, productive; trunk very stocky, rough; branches thick, dull reddish-brown, overspread with gray scarf-skin, with few lenticels; branchlets slender, short, light brown mingled with green, smooth, glabrous, sprinkled with few small, inconspicuous lenticels.

Leaf-buds small, short, conical, pointed, plump, appressed or free. Leaves 2½ in. long, 1¼ in. wide, thin; apex abruptly pointed; margin finely and shallowly serrate; petiole 1½ in. long. Flower-buds small, short, conical, pointed, plump, free, singly on short spurs; flowers medium in season of bloom.

Fruit matures in late August; medium in size, 2½ in. long, 1¾ in. wide, roundish-acute-pyriform, with unequal sides; stem 1½ in. long, curved; cavity very shallow, obtuse, roughened, usually drawing up as a lip about the base of the stem; calyx open, small; lobes separated at the base, short, narrow, acute; basin shallow, narrow, flaring, slightly furrowed, compressed; skin tough, smooth, slightly russeted, dull; color deep yellow, usually blushed; dots numerous, very small, obscure; flesh tinged with yellow, granular around the basin, otherwise rather fine-grained, tender and melting, very juicy, sweet, aromatic; quality very good. Core small, closed, with clasping core-lines; calyx-tube short, wide, conical; seeds medium in size and width, plump, acute.

— U.P. Hedrick, The Pears of New York (1921)

TYSON. Fig. 97. Tyson competes with Clapp Favorite as the precursor of the pear season which is really opened by Bartlett. In every character of fruit and tree excepting size and color of fruit, Tyson excels Clapp Favorite. The flesh is melting and juicy with a spicy scented sweetness that gives the fruits the charm of individuality. The pears keep longer and ship better than those of Clapp Favorite, their season in New York being from the middle of August to the middle of September. Unfortunately, the pears are but medium in size, and are often poorly colored. The tree is the most nearly perfect of that of any pear grown in America—the Kieffer, praiseworthy only in its tree, not excepted. It is certainly as hardy as that of any other variety if not hardier, and resists better than that of any other sort the black scourge of blight. Add to these notable characters, large size, great vigor and fruitfulness, and it is seen that the trees are nearly flawless. Tyson is the best pear of its season for the home orchard, and has much merit for commercial orchards. Were the fruit larger, it would rival Bartlett for the markets.

Tyson is a seedling found about 1794 on the land of Jonathan Tyson, Jenkintown, Pennsylvania.

Tree very large, vigorous, upright-spreading, tall, dense-topped, hardy, productive; trunk very stocky, rough; branches thick, dull reddish-brown, with few lenticels. Leaves 2½ inches long, 1½ inches wide, thin; apex abruptly pointed; margin finely and shallowly serrate; petiole 1½ inches long. Flowers medium in season of bloom.

Fruit matures in late August; medium in size although somewhat variable, 2½ inches long, 1⅞ inches wide, roundish-acute-pyriform, with unequal sides; stem 1½ inches long, curved; cavity very shallow, obtuse, roughened, usually drawing up as a lip about the base of the stem; calyx open, small; lobes separated at the base, short, narrow, acute; basin shallow, narrow, flaring, slightly furrowed, compressed; skin tough, smooth, slightly russeted, dull; color deep yellow, usually without blush; dots numerous, very small, obscure; flesh tinged with yellow, granular around the basin, otherwise rather fine-grained, tender and melting, very juicy, sweet, aromatic; quality very good; core small, closed, with clasping core-lines; calyx-tube short, wide, conical; seeds medium in size and width, plump, acute.

— U.P. Hedrick, Cyclopedia of Hardy Fruits (1922)

Planted Spring 1890. Tree a strong grower. Fruit below medium size, acute pyriform. Skin yellow, with a red cheek, and many brown dots. Flesh fine grained, juicy, buttery, sweet, and of good flavour. Season August.

— Central Experimental Farm, Central Experimental Farm, Agassiz BC — Catalogue of Fruit Trees under Test (Bulletin No. 3, 1900) (1900)