Widow Pear

Origin / History

Described by B. Desportes in The Horticulturist (1856) under the heading "II. Widow Pear." The author does not know its origin. The variety is ranked by its describer as a delicious, first rate pear, and he considered it equal to the best of the season's kinds, which ripen at the end of September and in October.

Tree

Trees of medium growth, pyramidal in shape, and straight branched. The wood is short and stout. The variety is very productive.

Fruit

Size: Of medium size.

Form: Regularly turbinate.

Stem: Slender, obliquely inserted at the surface.

Cavity: Not described in source.

Calyx: Not described in source.

Basin: Not described in source.

Skin: Thin. Ground color yellowish green. Covered over about half of the surface with dark gray spots, grayer on the sunny side. The color resembles that of Beurre d'Angleterre.

Dots: Dark gray spots covering about half of the surface, grayer on the sunny side.

Flesh and flavor: White, very melting, and buttery. Juice abundant, slightly acidulous or vinous in flavor, agreeably perfumed and highly flavored. A delicious, first rate pear.

Core and seeds: Not described in source.

Season

Ripens at the end of September and in October. The author states that he knows no other pear of equal quality at this season, when many kinds are ripening.

Uses

Not described in source.

Subtypes / Variants

Not described in source.

Other

Not described in source.