Pyrus communis ‘Beurré Brettoneau’
‘Fruit large, more or less pyriform. Skin rough, with brown russet, which considerably covers the greenish-yellow ground, and sometimes with a brownish-red on the side next the sun. Eye uneven, set in a moderately deep basin. Stalk an inch long, stout. Flesh yellowish-white, and when it ripens tender, juicy, and well flavoured. A late dessert pear, in use from March till May; but as it rarely ripens except in very warm summers, the flesh is generally crisp, or at best only half-melting.’ [Hogg – Fruit Manual p.161/1860].
Horticultural & Botanical History
Named for Dr. Brettoneau of Tours, France, in 1846 by its raiser, Major Espéren of Mechlen. [Gard. Chron 1848].
Figured in Le Jardin Fruitier du Muséum [JFM vol.4/1861] and Album to Pomologie [ADP vol.2, pl.13/1849], the illustration used here.
History at Camden Park
Listed only in the 1857 catalogue in an Addendum as ‘Beurré Brettoneau’ [Pear no.36/1857]. This is amended in Macarthur’s hand to ‘Beurré Bretoneau’ in a copy of the catalogue used by him for this purpose [Pear no.36/1850]. In the same copy the number ‘36’ is changed to ‘39’ and this aligns with the diary numbering. ‘39. Melting, large, of first class.’ [Diary B, MP A2951/1862]. An additional note in the diary records that ‘The following all from Vietch’. This appears to include all the pears numbered from 36 -70 in the uncorrected 1857 catalogue but this is by no means clear.
Notes
Published May 19, 2010 - 03:23 PM | Last updated Jul 22, 2011 - 01:56 PM
Pear ‘Beurré Brettoneau’ | ADP vol.2, pl.13/1849 | Pomologische Bibliothek. Beurré Brettoneau is the pear on the right.
| Family | Rosaceae |
|---|---|
| Category | |
| Region of origin | Garden origin, Belgium |
| Synonyms |
|
| Common Name | Dessert Pear, spring |
| Name in the Camden Park Record |
Beurré Brettoneau |
| Confidence level | high |