William Prince
PearWilliam Prince
Origin/History
Origin unknown. Hedrick (1921) notes that the variety was reported from the United States about 1848, but nothing further of its origin is known. Downing (1900) likewise records the origin as unknown.
Tree
Vigorous, upright, productive.
Fruit
Size and Form: Medium, roundish pyriform.
Stem: The two sources disagree on stem length. Downing describes the stalk as rather short; Hedrick describes the stem as medium to below.
Cavity: Not described in source.
Calyx: Open.
Basin: Shallow.
Skin: Greenish yellow, with a shade of crimson in the sun, covered with many brown dots.
Flesh/Flavor: Flesh white, juicy, melting, sweet. Quality rated good to very good.
Core/Seeds: Not described in source.
Season
September and October.
Uses
Not described in source.
Subtypes/Variants
Not described in source.
Other
Hedrick (1921) cites two prior references: Magazine of Horticulture 17:472 (1851) and Downing, Fruits and Fruit Trees of America, p. 883 (1869).
Book Sources
Described in 2 period pomological works
View original book sources (2)
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)WILLIAM PRINCE.
Origin unknown. Tree vigorous, upright, productive.
Fruit medium, roundish pyriform. Skin greenish yellow, with a shade of crimson in the sun, and many brown dots. Stalk rather short. Calyx open. Basin shallow. Flesh white, juicy, melting, sweet. Good to very good. September, October.
— U.P. Hedrick, The Pears of New York (1921)William Prince,
- Mag. Hort. 17:472. 1851.
- Downing Fr. Trees Am. 883. 1869.
Other than that this variety was reported from the United States about 1848, nothing of its origin is known. Tree vigorous, upright, productive. Fruit medium, roundish-pyriform, greenish-yellow, shaded with crimson in the sun, covered with many brown dots; stem medium to below; calyx open, set in a shallow basin; flesh white, juicy, melting, sweet; good to very good; Sept. and Oct.