VICOMTE DE SPOELBERCH
Pear
VICOMTE DE SPOELBERCH
Origin/History
A seedling raised by Van Mons, described in 1830, and dedicated to M. le Vicomte de Spoelberg de Lovenjoul. Belgian origin. Known also as De Spoelberg, Beurré de Spoelberg, De Spoilberg, and Délices Van Mons.
Tree
Vigorous and productive. Young wood reddish yellow brown. Thomas notes the variety needs high cultivation to develop its fine qualities.
Fruit
Size and Form: Downing describes the fruit as medium, roundish acute pyriform. Thomas describes it as medium or rather large, obovate, somewhat conic — the two sources thus disagree slightly on both size and precise form.
Stem: Curved. Downing adds that it is fleshy at its insertion with slight russet; Thomas gives the length as an inch and a quarter and describes it as stout.
Cavity: Not described in source.
Calyx: Downing describes it as open; Thomas as erect and short.
Basin: Downing describes it as small; Thomas as round and shallow.
Skin: Both sources agree the ground color is yellow (Downing specifies pale yellow) with russet present (Downing: small patches of russet; Thomas: very slightly russeted). Thomas adds a purplish blotched cheek on the sun-exposed side and describes the surface as slightly rough. Downing notes numerous small dots covering the skin.
Flesh and Flavor: White (Downing), buttery, juicy, and melting — agreed by both sources. The two sources diverge on flavor intensity: Downing rates it "not high flavored. Good."; Thomas calls it "rich, fine."
Core/Seeds: Not described in source.
Season
November and December (Downing); early winter (Thomas). The two accounts are consistent.
Uses
Not described in source.
Subtypes/Variants
Not described in source.
Other
Not described in source.
Book Sources
Described in 2 period pomological works
View original book sources (2)
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)VICOMTE DE SPOELBERCH.
De Spoelberg. Beurré de Spoelberg. De Spoilberg.
A seedling of Van Mons', described in 1830, and dedicated to M. le Vicomte de Spoelberg de Lovenjoul. Tree vigorous, productive. Young wood reddish yellow brown.
Fruit medium, roundish acute pyriform. Skin pale yellow, covered with numerous small dots, and small patches of russet. Stalk curved, fleshy at its insertion, with slight russet. Calyx open. Basin small. Flesh white, buttery, juicy, melting, not high flavored. Good. November, December.
— John J. Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)Vicomte de Spoelberch. (De Spoelberg, Delices Van Mons.) Medium or rather large, obovate, somewhat conic; skin slightly rough, yellow, with a purplish blotched cheek to the sun, very slightly russeted; stalk an inch and a fourth long, stout, curved, basin round, shallow; calyx erect, short; flesh buttery, melting, rich, fine. Needs high cultivation to develop its fine qualities. Early winter. Belgian.