Van Assche
PearVan Assche Pear
Origin/History
A Flemish (Belgian) pear originated by M. Bouvier of Jodoigne, Belgium, about 1828. M. Manning received cions of the variety from Van Mons in 1835 under the name Van Assene, which led to incorrect statements in America that Van Assche is a seedling of Van Mons and should properly be called Van Assene. (Hedrick) The variety is also known in early literature as Van Awhe. (Downing)
Tree
Vigorous and productive. Erect habit; an early bearer. (Hedrick) Shoots light brownish-purple, diverging. (Thomas) Young wood reddish yellow brown. (Downing) Leaves considerably serrated. (Thomas)
Fruit
Size and Form: Medium to large (Downing), or rather large (Hedrick, Thomas). Roundish obovate pyriform (Downing, Hedrick). Thomas describes it as broad, obovate, slightly angular, with an obtuse crown and rounded sides.
Stem: Long, slender, curved (Hedrick, Thomas). Thomas gives the length as approximately one and a quarter inches. Set in the cavity, inclined, sometimes attached by a lip. (Downing)
Cavity: Downing describes the cavity as shallow; Hedrick gives it as medium deep; Thomas as moderately sunk.
Calyx: Downing describes the calyx as partially closed, with segments short and erect. Hedrick and Thomas both describe it as closed.
Basin: Abrupt, deep (Hedrick, Downing). Downing additionally describes it as large and slightly corrugated.
Skin: Downing describes the skin as pale whitish yellow, shaded, mottled, and dotted with crimson, and thickly covered with conspicuous brown dots. Hedrick describes it as pale yellow, covered with rather large russet specks, without mention of crimson. Thomas describes the skin as fair, smooth, and dull yellow, without noting russet or crimson markings.
Flesh and Flavor: White, juicy, melting, sweet, pleasant; good to very good. (Downing, Hedrick) Thomas adds that the flesh is rather coarse, buttery, and rich.
Core/Seeds: Not described in source.
Season
September. (Downing, Hedrick)
Uses
Not described in source.
Subtypes/Variants
Not described in source.
Other
Quality is described by Downing as variable despite the fruit's handsome appearance.
Book Sources
Described in 3 period pomological works
View original book sources (3)
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Van Assche.
Van Assene. Van Awhe.
This Flemish Pear is quite handsome but of variable quality. Tree vigorous, productive. Young wood reddish yellow brown.
Fruit medium to large, roundish obovate pyriform. Skin pale whitish yellow, shaded, mottled, and dotted with crimson, and thickly covered with conspicuous brown dots. Stalk curved, inclined, set in a shallow cavity, sometimes by a lip. Calyx partially closed. Segments short, erect. Basin abrupt, large, deep, slightly corrugated. Flesh white, juicy, melting, sweet, pleasant. Good to very good. September.
— U.P. Hedrick, The Pears of New York (1921)VanAssche. 1. Am. Pom. Soc. Rpt. 55. 1852. 2. Horticulturist 3:60, fig., front. 1853. Van Assene. 3. Mag. Hort. 8:58. 1842. 4. Ibid. 13:60, fig. 4. 1847.
M. Bouvier, Jodoigne, Bel., originated this pear about 1828. M. Manning received cions of the variety from Van Mons in 1835 under the name Van Assene, and this has led to incorrect statements in America that Van Assche is a seedling of Van Mons and should be called Van Assene. Tree productive, vigorous, erect, an early bearer. Fruit rather large, roundish-obovate-pyriform, pale yellow, covered with rather large russet specks; stem long, slender, curved; cavity medium deep; calyx closed; basin abrupt, deep; flesh white, juicy, melting, sweet, pleasant; good to very good; Sept.
— John J. Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)Van Assche. (Van Assene.) Rather large, broad, obovate, slightly angular; crown obtuse, sides rounded; skin fair, smooth, dull yellow; stalk an inch and a quarter long, slender, curved, moderately sunk; calyx closed; flesh white, rather coarse, buttery, melting, rich. Shoots light brownish-purple, diverging; leaves considerably serrated. Belgian.