Windsor
PearWindsor
Origin / History
Windsor is an old European pear of contested origin. According to Leroy (cited by both Bunyard and Hedrick), the variety was raised by an amateur in Holland from a seed of the Bonne Chretien d'Été, not far from the village of Hallemine, and was first described by Knoop in 1771 under the name Hallum Bonne (Bunyard) or Hallemine Bonne (Hedrick). In French gardens it received the name Madame, and in England it is often called Cuisse Madame — though Bunyard notes this English usage is in error. Hedrick further records that a "Windsor," which appears to be identical with the Windsor of Knoop, is described by English writers as early as 1629 (Parkinson, Paradisi Terrestris). Hogg quotes an English writer as saying, "It was raised from seed of the Cuisse Madame, by a person of the name of Williamson . . ." before 1750. Moreover, it is mentioned in 1592 as being cultivated about Naples, and 1563 in England. Hedrick concludes that the true origin appears undeterminable. Downing characterizes it simply as an old European pear, very commonly known in some parts of the United States as the Summer Bell Pear.
Tree
One of the strongest growers; upright, tall, a regular and abundant bearer (Hedrick); a handsome grower and great bearer (Thomas); growth vigorous, fertility good (Bunyard). The tree is remarkable for its stout, perfectly upright dark brown shoots (Downing, Hedrick). Bunyard adds that it makes a large, upright standard. Leaf large, round, held flat, sharply serrate (Bunyard).
Fruit
Size: Large (Downing, Thomas, Hedrick); medium, 2¼ by 3¼ inches (Bunyard).
Form: Pyriform or bell-shaped, widest above the middle, narrowing to the eye (Downing); pyriform, regular (Thomas); oval pyriform (Bunyard); pyriform or bell-shaped (Hedrick).
Stem: Long, fairly stout, inserted without depression (Bunyard, Hedrick).
Cavity: Stem inserted without depression — i.e., no cavity (Bunyard, Hedrick).
Calyx / Eye: Eye open, on level with prominent ribs around (Bunyard); calyx open, set on level with prominent ribs around (Hedrick).
Basin: Not described in source.
Skin: Yellowish green (Downing); yellowish-green (Thomas); very smooth, palest lemon yellow (Bunyard); very smooth, greenish becoming pale yellow (Hedrick).
Flesh / Flavor: White, tender or soft, coarse-grained, with a somewhat astringent juice (Downing); tender, coarse, astringent (Thomas); crisp, white, slightly acid, no particular flavour (Bunyard); white, tender, buttery, rather coarse-grained, slightly acid, somewhat astringent (Hedrick). Rots at the core (Downing, Thomas, Hedrick). Downing judges the fruit, from its acidity, almost uneatable, and to be valued only as a cooking fruit.
Core / Seeds: Rots at the core (Downing, Thomas, Hedrick). Seeds not otherwise described.
Season
Last of August (Downing); late August (Thomas); August, dessert (Bunyard); August (Hedrick). Bunyard notes that it keeps for so short a period that it is not worth growing.
Uses
Dessert (Bunyard); cooking fruit, valued only as such on account of its acidity which Downing says makes it almost uneatable fresh. A profitable market sort, bearing regularly large crops and selling well (Downing).
Subtypes / Variants
Not described in source.
Other
Not described in source.
Book Sources
Described in 4 period pomological works
View original book sources (4)
— A.J. Downing, The Fruits and Fruit Trees of America (1900)Windsor.
Summer Bell. Belle d'Août. Green Windsor. Kongé. Lady Thigh. Grosse Jargonelle. Madame. Bell Tongue. Supreme. Madame de France. of some. Watermelon, of some.
The Windsor is an old European Pear, very commonly known in some parts of this country as the Summer Bell Pear. It is a profitable market sort, bearing regularly large crops, and selling well, although in quality it is, from its acidity, almost uneatable, and to be valued only as a cooking fruit. The tree is remarkable for its stout, perfectly upright dark brown shoots.
Fruit large, pyriform or bell-shaped, widest above the middle, narrowing to the eye. Skin yellowish green. Flesh white, tender or soft, coarse-grained, with a somewhat astringent juice. Rots at the core. Last of August.
— John J. Thomas, The American Fruit Culturist (1903)Windsor. See Summer Bell.
[Additional entry in this volume: "Summer Bell, or Windsor", pp. 804–804]
Summer Bell, or Windsor. Large, pyriform, regular, yellowish-green; tender, coarse, astringent—rots at core. Tree a handsome grower and great bearer. Late August.
— E.A. Bunyard, A Handbook of Hardy Fruits (1920)WINDSOR. F. Madame. G. Windsor Birn. (Hallemine.) Dessert, August, medium, 2¼ by 3¼, oval pyriform. Skin, very smooth. Colour, palest lemon yellow. Flesh, crisp, white, slightly acid, no particular flavour. Eye, open on level with prominent ribs around. Stem, long, fairly stout, inserted without depression. Growth, vigorous; fertility good. Leaf, large, round, held flat, sharply serrate. Origin, according to Leroy this was raised by an amateur in Holland from a seed of the Bonne Chretien d'Été, not far from the village of Hallemine. First described by Knoop in 1771, under the name Hallum Bonne. This is often called Cuisse Madame in England, but in error. It makes a large, upright standard, but keeps for so short a period that it is not worth growing.
— U.P. Hedrick, The Pears of New York (1921)Windsor.
- Parkinson Par. Ter. 592, fig. 10. 1629.
- Bunyard Handb. Hardy Fr. 204. 1920. Madame.
- Leroy Dict. Pom. 2:369, fig. 1869. Summer Bell.
- Thomas Am. Fruit Cult. 571. 1885.
According to Leroy this variety originated in Holland, and was published in 1771 under the name Hallemine Bonne by Knoop. In French gardens it received the name Madame. In England, Windsor is often called Cuisse Madame. A "Windsor," which appears to be identical with the Windsor of Knoop, is described by English writers as early as 1629. Hogg quotes an English writer as saying, "It was raised from seed of the Cuisse Madame, by a person of the name of Williamson . . ." before 1750. Moreover, it is mentioned in 1592 as being cultivated about Naples, and 1563 in England. What the origin is appears undeterminable.
Tree one of the strongest growers, upright, tall, a regular and abundant bearer; shoots remarkably stout, perfectly upright, dark brown.
Fruit large, pyriform or bell-shaped, very smooth, greenish becoming pale yellow; stem long, fairly stout, inserted without depression; calyx open, set on level with prominent ribs around; flesh white, tender, buttery, rather coarse-grained, slightly acid, somewhat astringent; rots at the core; Aug.