Wilkinson

Pear

Wilkinson Pear

Origin/History

One of the oldest American pear varieties. The tree originated on the farm of Mr. Jeremiah Wilkinson of Cumberland, Rhode Island, brother of the noted Jemima Wilkinson. Specimens were exhibited before the Massachusetts Horticultural Society in October 1829, at which time the variety was named in compliment to the owner. Elliott notes the variety is "good in its own locality, elsewhere poor." Thomas characterizes it as "a good second-rate variety" that "often fails by cracking."

References: Kenrick, Am. Orch. 187 (1832); Mag. Hort. 20:470, fig. 25 (1854).

Tree

Thrifty, hardy, and productive, described by Hedrick as a regular bearer. Elliott notes good performance in its native locality but poor results elsewhere.

Shoots long, stout, and upright. Hedrick describes shoot color as olive-yellow with oblong white specks; Thomas describes them as greenish-yellow (specks not mentioned).

Fruit

Size and Form: Medium. Sources agree on an obovate form; Hedrick specifies ovoid, obtuse at both ends; Thomas describes it as obovate, narrowed somewhat toward the crown and largest in the middle; Elliott gives oval obovate.

Skin: Smooth. Hedrick describes it as glossy yellow dotted with brown points; Elliott gives yellow with brown dots and specks; Thomas describes it as smooth, bright yellow (no mention of dots).

Stem: Rather long and stout. Thomas gives a length of approximately an inch and a quarter. Hedrick specifies the stem is inserted obliquely in a rather wide and deep cavity. Thomas, by contrast, describes the stem as scarcely sunk — a conflict with Hedrick's "rather wide and deep cavity."

Calyx: Open. Hedrick describes it as medium-sized and set in a shallow basin; Elliott describes it as small; Thomas describes it as stiff and short, with a shallow basin.

Basin: Shallow (Hedrick, Thomas).

Cavity: Hedrick: rather wide and deep, with stem inserted obliquely. Thomas: stem scarcely sunk (implying a shallow cavity). These accounts conflict.

Flesh: White (Hedrick: very white). Juicy, melting (Hedrick, Thomas; not specified by Elliott), sweet, rich (Hedrick, Thomas). Hedrick notes a slight perfume. Thomas describes it as "of good flavor." Elliott gives simply "white, juicy, sweet."

Season

October to December (all three sources). Thomas specifies ripening from mid-autumn to winter.

Uses

Dessert pear. Rated "good" by Hedrick. Thomas calls it a good second-rate variety and notes it often fails by cracking, which is a significant quality and storage liability.

Subtypes/Variants

Not described in source.

Other

Not described in source.

Book Sources

Described in 3 period pomological works

View original book sources (3)

Wilkinson.

Kenrick Am. Orch. 187. 1832.

Mag. Hort. 20:470, fig. 25. 1854.

This pear, one of the oldest American kinds, was introduced by the exhibition of specimens before the Massachusetts Horticultural Society, in October, 1829, and given the name "Wilkinson," in compliment to the owner of the farm on which the tree originated and was then growing, Mr. Jeremiah Wilkinson, Cumberland, R. I., brother of the noted Jemima Wilkinson. Tree thrifty, hardy, a regular bearer; shoots long, upright, stout, olive-yellow, with oblong white specks. Fruit medium, ovoid, obtuse at both ends, smooth, glossy, yellow dotted with brown points; stem rather long, rather stout, inserted obliquely in a rather wide and deep cavity; calyx medium, open, set in a shallow basin; flesh very white, juicy, melting, sweet, rich, with a slight perfume; good; Oct. to Dec.

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

Wilkinson.

American. From Cumberland, R. I. Tree, thrifty, hardy, productive "good" in its own locality, elsewhere poor. Fruit, medium, oval obovate, yellow, with brown dots and specks ; stem, rather long and stout ; calyx, small, open ; flesh, white, juicy, sweet. October to December.

— F.R. Elliott, The Western Fruit Book (1865)

Wilkinson. Size medium, obovate, narrowed somewhat toward the crown, largest in the middle; skin smooth, bright yellow; stalk an inch and a quarter long, stout, scarcely sunk; calyx stiff, short, basin shallow; flesh white, juicy, melting, sweet, rich, of good flavor. Ripens from mid-autumn to winter. Shoots long, stout, upright, greenish-yellow; tree thrifty, hard, productive. A good second-rate variety. Often fails by cracking. Rhode Island.

— John J. Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)