Vallee Franche

Pear

Vallee Franche

Origin/History

A pear of ancient and unknown origin, grown in France in the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries. Also known as Poire de Vallée. Referenced by Duhamel (Trait. Arb. Fr. 2:74, 1768), Hogg (Fruit Man. 658, 1884), and Mas (Le Verger 2:113, fig. 55, 1866–73). Well reported from the Old World, but described as "unworthy of cultivation" from the New.

Tree

Very large, exceedingly vigorous, very hardy, a regular bearer.

Fruit

Size and form: Medium or below (Hedrick); medium (Thomas). Obovate or obtuse-pyriform (Hedrick); obovate (Thomas).

Stem: Not described in source.

Cavity: Not described in source.

Calyx: Not described in source.

Basin: Not described in source.

Skin: Smooth, shining yellowish-green, sprinkled with small russet dots (Hedrick); greenish-yellow (Thomas).

Flesh and flavor: Flesh white, breaking, medium fine, very juicy, sweet, slightly musky (Hedrick). Thomas agrees on juicy and sweet but characterizes the flavor as rather poor — a mild conflict with Hedrick's more favorable assessment.

Core and seeds: Not described in source.

Season

Last of August (Hedrick); Early September (Thomas).

Uses

Not described in source beyond the general assessment of being unworthy of cultivation in the New World.

Subtypes/Variants

Not described in source.

Book Sources

Described in 2 period pomological works

View original book sources (2)

Vallee Franche.

Duhamel Trait. Arb. Fr. 2:74. 1768. 2. Hogg Fruit Man. 658. 1884. Poire de Vallée. 3. Mas Le Verger 2:113, fig. 55. 1866-73. A pear of ancient and unknown origin. It was grown in France in the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries. Tree very large, exceedingly vigorous, very hardy, a regular bearer. Fruit medium or below, obovate or obtuse-pyriform, smooth, shining yellowish-green, sprinkled with small russet dots; flesh white, breaking, medium fine, very juicy, sweet, slightly musky; well reported from the Old World but as "unworthy of cultivation" from the New; last of Aug.

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

Vallee Franche. Medium, obovate, greenish-yellow; juicy, sweet, flavor rather poor. Early September.

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

Bonne de Keinzheim Bonne de Kienzheim Keinzheim (P. de) Kienzheim (Birne von) Kienzheimer Weg Birne Liquet (P. de) Liquette Luquet Poire de Vallée Thalbirne Valette Vallee (P. de) Vallee Musquee Vallée Française