Whitfield

Pear

Whitfield Pear

Origin/History

The variety is cited in The Cultivator (66, 1839) and Magazine of Horticulture (16:296, 1850). It was placed on the list of Rejected Fruits by the second Congress of Fruit Growers in 1850 (Hedrick).

The contributor to the Herefordshire Pomona first encountered the variety in 1826, at which time it appeared very excellent. In the three following years it seemed to possess little merit. It was better the year before the 1885 publication, but not so good as in 1826. The author suggests that a light, dry soil would render the variety uniformly excellent (Herefordshire Pomona).

Tree

A good bearer (Hedrick). Not otherwise described in source.

Fruit

Size: Medium (Hedrick).

Form: Oblong-obovate (Hedrick).

Stem, Cavity, Calyx, Basin, Core, Seeds: Not described in source.

Skin: The Herefordshire Pomona describes the color as that of a ripe Swan's Egg, rather less russetty. Hedrick describes the color as yellowish-brown.

Flesh/Flavor: Melting, sweet and good, but dry; not first-rate (Herefordshire Pomona). Buttery, very good (Hedrick). The two sources conflict on quality assessment: the Herefordshire Pomona rates it below first-rate and notes significant year-to-year variation in merit, while Hedrick rates it very good. The Herefordshire Pomona's characterization of the texture as dry also stands in some tension with Hedrick's "buttery."

Season

November (Herefordshire Pomona). October and November (Hedrick).

Uses

Not described in source.

Subtypes/Variants

Not described in source.

Book Sources

Described in 2 period pomological works

Hedrick, The Pears of New York (1921)
The Herefordshire Pomona (1876–1885) — listed as The Whitfield Pear

View original book sources (2)

The Whitfield Pear.

Colour of a ripe Swan's Egg, rather less russetty. Flesh melting, sweet and good, but dry. Not first-rate. Season November.

Remarks.—I first saw this variety in 1826 when I thought it very excellent. In the three following years it appeared to me to possess little merit. Last year it was better, but not so good as in 1826. A light dry soil would I think render this variety uniformly excellent.

— Woolhope Naturalists Field Club, The Herefordshire Pomona (1885)

Whitfield.

i. Cultivator 66. 1839. 2. Mag. Hort. 16:296. 1850.

Placed on the list of Rejected Fruits by the second Congress of Fruit Growers in 1850. Tree a good bearer. Fruit medium, oblong-obovate, yellowish-brown, buttery, very good; Oct. and Nov.

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