Walker
PearWalker Pear
Origin/History
A seedling of Van Mons', sent to Robert Manning of Salem, Massachusetts, in 1834–5, under Van Mons' number 135. Thomas identifies the variety as Belgian, which is consistent with its Van Mons origin.
Tree
The tree is a vigorous, healthy grower of upright habit. The young wood is grayish.
Fruit
Size and Form: Large, oblong pyriform.
Stem: Long and fleshy at the point of insertion (Downing); Elliott describes the stem as curved and fleshy at the base. It sits in a slight cavity defined by a ring.
Cavity: Slight, formed by a ring at the stem's insertion.
Calyx: Open, or partially closed (Downing). Elliott describes the calyx as open with long segments; Downing describes the segments as short and erect — these accounts conflict on segment length.
Basin: Small (Downing); shallow (Elliott).
Skin: Greenish yellow (Downing, Thomas), sometimes with a shade of crimson on the sun-exposed side (Downing). Downing further notes slight nettings and patches of russet, with the surface thickly sprinkled with brown dots. Elliott describes the ground color as lemon yellow, marbled with light sea-green — a notably different characterization of the same surface.
Flesh and Flavor: White (Downing), a little coarse (Downing, Elliott, Thomas), juicy (Downing, Elliott). Half melting (Downing, Thomas). Downing characterizes the flavor as vinous and a little astringent; Thomas describes it as sweet — these accounts conflict on flavor character. Elliott notes the flesh as crisp.
Quality: Good to very good (Downing); very good (Elliott); good (Thomas).
Season
September (Elliott) or October (Downing, Thomas).
Uses
Not described in source.
Subtypes/Variants
Not described in source.
Other
Not described in source.
Book Sources
Described in 3 period pomological works
View original book sources (3)
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)WALKER.
No. 135, Van Mons.
This is a seedling of Van Mons', and sent to Robert Manning, of Salem, Mass., in 1834-5, under number. The tree is a vigorous, healthy grower, upright habit. The young wood grayish.
Fruit large, oblong pyriform. Skin greenish yellow, sometimes a shade of crimson in the sun. Slight nettings and patches of russet, and thickly sprinkled with brown dots. Stalk long, fleshy at insertion, in a slight cavity by a ring. Calyx open or partially closed. Segments short, erect. Basin small. Flesh white, a little coarse, juicy, half melting, vinous, a little astringent. Good to very good. October.
— F.R. Elliott, The Western Fruit Book (1865)Walker.
Fruit, large, oblong pyriform, lemon yellow, marbled with light sea-green; stem, curved, fleshy at base ; calyx, open ; long segments; basin, shallow ; flesh, coarse, crisp, juicy ; "very good." September.
— John J. Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)Walker. Large oblong, pyriform, greenish-yellow; a little coarse; half melting, sweet, good. October. Belgian.