Winter Crasanne Pear

Origin / History

The Winter Crasanne Pear first fruited in 1830. It is described in The Herefordshire Pomona (1885), published by the Woolhope Naturalists' Field Club. The Club's remarks state that the description was derived from the large fruit of the Crasanne Pear, which the author had observed several times to be excellent in seasons when the smaller fruit was worthless. The author retained only the smaller pears of the Winter Crasanne Pear and judged their merits less great than the published description represented.

Tree

The growth of the original tree is enormously rapid.

Fruit

Size: Fruit large.

Form: Fruit irregularly turbinate, with a very hollow eye.

Stem: Stalk thickened, and a little sunk at its insertion.

Cavity: Not described in source.

Calyx: Eye very hollow.

Basin: Not described in source.

Skin: Skin greenish yellow, intermixed with brown and some patches of cinnamon russet.

Dots: Not described in source.

Flesh and flavor: Flesh inclining to yellowish white, melting, quite buttery, with very little grittiness, even at the core, rich, sugary, and very excellent; it has a little of the Chaumontel flavor. The author states: "This is without doubt a very valuable sort."

Core and seeds: Not described in source.

Season

Season, January. The large fruit is excellent in seasons when the smaller fruit is worthless.

Uses

Not described in source.

Subtypes / Variants

Not described in source.

Other

The Winter Crasanne Pear's weight greatly exceeds that of the Monarch, Althorp Crasanne, and Eastnor Castle pears. The author thought the variety inferior to those three in merit.