William Edwards
PearWilliam Edwards
Origin/History
William Edwards is a seedling pear raised by Governor H. W. Edwards of New Haven, Connecticut, prior to 1845. Downing refers to the raiser as "Ex-Governor Edwards," reflecting the Governor's status at the time of that publication. The variety is said to be a "species of Virgoulouse" (Hedrick). It was first documented in 1845, appearing in the Cultivator (vol. 175, fig. 8), the Magazine of Horticulture (vol. 11, p. 252), and Downing's Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (p. 420) in that year.
Tree
Very productive. No further tree characteristics described in sources.
Fruit
Size: Medium.
Form: Obtuse pyriform, terminating rather abruptly at the stalk.
Stem: Not described in sources beyond its role in shaping the fruit's termination.
Cavity: Not described in sources.
Calyx: Not described in sources.
Basin: Not described in sources.
Skin: Yellow; at maturity profusely dotted with red and russet points or dots on the sunny side. Thomas describes the dotting as "thickly dotted," consistent with Downing's and Hedrick's "profusely dotted."
Flesh/Flavor: Yellowish-white; buttery; sugary (Downing) / sweet (Hedrick, Thomas). Not juicy or melting enough for dessert purposes.
Core/Seeds: Not described in sources.
Season
September.
Uses
Good baking fruit. Not sufficiently juicy or melting for dessert use.
Subtypes/Variants
Not described in sources.
Other
Early bibliographic references compiled by Hedrick: Cultivator 175, fig. 8 (1845); Magazine of Horticulture 11:252 (1845); Downing, Fruits and Fruit Trees of America, p. 420 (1845). Hedrick indexes the variety under the name "William," citing "William Edwards" as the form used by Downing.
Book Sources
Described in 3 period pomological works
View original book sources (3)
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)William Edwards.
A seedling of Ex-Governor Edwards, of New Haven, very productive, and a good baking fruit, but not juicy or melting enough for the dessert.
Fruit of medium size, obtuse pyriform, terminating rather abruptly at the stalk. Skin yellow, and at maturity profusely dotted with red and russet points or dots on the sunny side. Flesh yellowish white, buttery, sugary. September.
— John J. Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)William Edwards. Medium, obtuse pyriform, yellow, thickly dotted; buttery, sweet. September. Conn.
— U.P. Hedrick, The Pears of New York (1921)William,
- Cultivator 175, fig. 8. 1845. 2. Mag. Hort. 11:252. 1845. William Edwards. 3. Downing Fr. Trees Am. 420. 1845.
This seedling pear is said to be a "species of Virgoulouse," and was raised by Governor H. W. Edwards of New Haven, Conn., previous to 1845. Tree very productive. Fruit medium, obtuse-pyriform, terminating rather abruptly at the stalk, yellow, becoming profusely dotted with red and russet points or dots on the sunny side; flesh yellowish-white, sweet, buttery, not juicy or melting enough for dessert purposes but good for baking; Sept.