Pear ID

[slack ma girdle]

I did eat them, but it's laden and can get more tomorrow and do cross section photo (along length or width or both?)

A friend suggested Robin

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Arbtalk

 

Both would be good.

[agg221]

I can't be certain, but I think it looks very likely to be Beurre Hardy.

 

It would help to confirm if you could give some details of the orchard and the tree - any info on date of planting, what else is in the orchard (varieties if possible), how big are the trees in general, is this tree a standard or a bush, any obvious graft line, what size is it (height and diameter). This would all give clues as to what it could or could not be - for example Beurre Bedford and Beurre Clairgeau are outside possibilities but Beurre Bedford was only introduced in 1921 so it may be possible to rule it out, whereas Beurre Clairgeau was fairly widely planted in the 1800s but not since. Beurre Clairgeau is also quite dry and musky flavoured rather than sweet. It's a bit early for it, but if it's a warm site it could be.

 

Beurre Hardy is the strongest contender though. Described as a vigorous and upright tree, with large, rounded leaves which are dark green. The fruit has rough skin and a short, thick stalk. The flesh is creamy coloured, green just under the skin and is juicy, tender with a rosewater flavour.

 

Compare with Beurre Hardy pear trees for sale | Order online - Keepers' Nursery is usually very reliable for its images (and its trees for that matter).

 

Alec

[agg221]

Looking at the photo, i want to say it's a Doyenne d'Ete, based on size and colour. But i'm not 100%

 

Size and colour look right, but Doyenne d'Ete is normally ready late July/early August so in Norfolk I would expect it to be long gone. I reckon the fruit is too short and squat for Louise Bonne of Jersey.

 

Alec

[agg221]

I did eat them, but it's laden and can get more tomorrow and do cross section photo (along length or width or both?)

A friend suggested Robin

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Arbtalk

 

Robin is a very good thought. Not a pear I know at all, but it does originate from Norfolk. The season is right too. It should be a small, upright-spreading tree?

 

Robin pear trees for sale | Order online

 

Alec

[slack ma girdle]

Robin is a very good thought. Not a pear I know at all, but it does originate from Norfolk. The season is right too. It should be a small, upright-spreading tree?

 

Robin pear trees for sale | Order online

 

Alec

 

Robin looks good, not one i have come across before.

[timbernut]

Here's cross section of pears

Plot thickens a bit as a I had a brief look at the tree yesterday (can't get in orchard at the mo) as the tree appears to be producing 2 varieties of fruit, to the north are the pictured colourful ones which have mostly fallen whereas on the south they are still on the tree and look like a small conference pear (green n brown)

I can just see the trunk through the hedge and it appears to be about 2' dbh with crown break at about 6' (graft point?)

Sadly there is a is a large pile of planks/poles been leaned against it, quite few large bits of dead in the, very dense, crown. Needs some tlc methinks, going to try tospeak to the owner next week as off to Bahn Thai in Sheffield this evening

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Arbtalk

[slack ma girdle]

Here's cross section of pears

Plot thickens a bit as a I had a brief look at the tree yesterday (can't get in orchard at the mo) as the tree appears to be producing 2 varieties of fruit, to the north are the pictured colourful ones which have mostly fallen whereas on the south they are still on the tree and look like a small conference pear (green n brown)

I can just see the trunk through the hedge and it appears to be about 2' dbh with crown break at about 6' (graft point?)

Sadly there is a is a large pile of planks/poles been leaned against it, quite few large bits of dead in the, very dense, crown. Needs some tlc methinks, going to try tospeak to the owner next week as off to Bahn Thai in Sheffield this evening

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Arbtalk

 

Cheers for that. The cross section definitely rules out Doyenne d'Ete. I haven't got Robin in my ID book, so pass.

[Stubby]

Possibly a graft then as two types of fruit . One side reverting to the root stock ?

[timbernut]

Yep that's what I was thinking, what age d'ya reckon with trunk that size? Grown on heavy clay

 

 

Sent from my iPhone using Arbtalk

[agg221]

From the description I would reach the same conclusion as you - a top-worked graft (at 6') onto seedling pear. What the seedling was from is anyone's guess but the colour and location do suggest maybe some Robin parentage. The one decent photo (in the link) of Robin suggests slightly less squat fruit form, with a distinct neck, rather than than the very blunt shape in your cross section.

 

Age - hard to be certain but well over the century. I would guess 150ish.

 

Alec