‘PEARS’
‘PEARS’
THE LIST BELOW WILL BE UPDATED LATER IN THE SUMMER
WITH VARIETIES THAT WILL BE READY FOR SALE FROM LATE NOVEMBER 2015
| Variety | Description | Rootstock |
| Beetroot Pear 'Alex' 'Ella' and 'Eric' | There are 3 cultivars of Beetroot pear at Wick Court, Arlingham, thus it is a collective term for some red-fleshed perry pears. The 3 cultivars were individually named by Jim Chapman founder of the National Perry Pear Collection at Hartpury. They are named after the Dowdeswell siblings who lived at Wick Court until their deaths culminating with Alex in 1985. Jasper Ely enquired of Long Ashton Research Station about the origin of these curious varieties in the 1950s and was told ‘they grew between Upton-on-Severn and Longney and that they had been spread down the river (Severn) by lightermen.’ | |
| Beth | Small sweet and juicy, smooth pale yellow skin when fully ripe, excellent garden variety, Kent 1938 | Quince A, Pyrus Communis |
| Beurre Superfin | Small sweet and juicy flesh. Pale green, turning yellow smooth skin. Good reliable crops. Kent 1938 | Kirchensaller |
| Bird Pear | An extremely rare perry pear. It was propagated by Mr 'Buffalo' Leach and planted around farms in Arlingham. It is a consistent heavy cropper. Relatively large fruit on a relatively small tree probably gave this variety it's appeal. | Pyrus Communis |
| Black Worcester | A very old (16th century) cooking pear, that was probably used for perry too. It features on the Worcestershire coat of arms. | |
| Blakeney Red | The most common perry pear which could also be stewed and used to dye soldiers' khaki uniforms. Very reliable, heavy cropper. | Pyrus Communis, Pyro Dwarf |
| Brandy |
A small Gloucestershire perry
pear, pale yellow with a bright red flush, 19th century. |
Pyrus Communis, |
| Butt | This old perry pear does not rot down easily so there is a saying 'Gather your Butts one year, mill them the next, and drink the year after.' | Pyrus Communis, |
| Cannock | Thought to be a Forest of Dean variety, for perry, cooking and fresh eating if stored. | Pyrus Communis |
| Chapman's Orange | ||
| Christmas Pear | A small dessert pear. Green/yellow skin with a slight red flush. Considered critically rare. Once grew in The Square in Newent. | Pyrus Communis |
| Clusters |
A very rare perry pear found in parishes
south west of Gloucester as far as Whitminster.
|
Pyrus Communis |
| Concorde | Large yellow fruit with a pale yellow flesh, that is sweet and juicy. Very heavy cropper and a compact grower, ideal for pollinating Doyenne du Comice. Self fertile. | Quince A, Kirchensaller |
| Conference |
Reliable cropper, excellent
flavour, self-fertile, Hertfordshire 19th Century. |
Pyrus Communis, Quince A |
| Doyenne du Comice | Medium/large yellow fruit often with a red flush, rich juicy flavour, grow with Concorde for reliable pollination, 19th century. | Quince A, Pyrus Communis |
| Early Griffin |
Reported to have been started by a member
of the Griffin family who farmed at Lower Cleeve Farm, Ross-on-Wye.
Dale Griffin, was a member of the 1970s
pop group ‘Mott the Hoople’
|
|
| Hendre Huffcap | A valued variety with excellent orchard and perry making qualities. | |
| Hellens Early | From the Hellens, Much Marcle. One tree still grows in the avenue there. | Pyrus Communis |
| High Pear |
A very rare perry pear, only known from
Kempley and Hillend Green.
|
Pyrus Communis, Pyro Dwarf |
| Jenkins Red |
The
only highly flushed huffcap pear with the exception presumably of the
Red Huffcap which used to be found in Blaisdon. This variety was wide
spread around Cheltenham, from where it may have arisen.
|
Pyrus Communis |
| Merrylegs | Critically rare perry pear, the strength of it's perry could be reflected in it's name!? Found on the eastern edge of the Forest of Dean. | Pyrus Communis |
| Moorcroft | A widespread variety from Moorcroft Farm, Colwall. Invariably known as `Malvern Hills' east of the Severn. A fine vintage variety. | Pyrus Communis, Pyro Dwarf |
| Newbridge | A Worcestershire variety known from Berrow. The flower buds may be pink or red. The large flowers make for a striking tree in springtime. | Pyrus Communis, Pyro Dwarf |
| Oldfield | Originated at Oldfield, Leddington Gloucestershire. A smallish tree but makes a high quality perry. | |
| Onward | Sweet rich and juicy reliable dessert variety, pale green/yellow skin with a slight pink flush. | Quince A, Pyrus Communis |
| Packham's Triumph | Bright green skin turning pale yellow with some bumpy russet. Fruit can be small but plentiful and keeps well. Ready October. | Pyrus Communis |
| Painted Lady | A rare general purpose pear, that is noted for it's attractive red flushed skin. | Pyrus Communis |
| Parsonage | A very rare perry pear, large spreading tree, found in the West and Northwest of Gloucestershire. | Pyrus Communis |
| Pear Apple | A dessert pear that looks similar to an apple! | |
| Pitmaston Duchess | Large, long golden yellow fruit with juicy white flesh. A very fine dessert pear. Worcestershire 1841. | Pyrus Communis |
| Potato Pear | A perry pear from Ruardean and known down in Monmouthshire. So named because it looks like a potato. | Pyrus Communis, Pyro Dwarf |
| Red Pear | An attractive red skinned perry
pear with many synonyms such as:
Aylton Red, Black Horse, Blunt Red, Pixley
Red, Red Horse, Red Squash Pear, Sack.
|
Pyrus Communis, Pyro Dwarf |
| Rock | Believed to have originated early in the 19th century at Pendock. Famous for quality highly alcoholic perry. The branches are wavy and horizontal. | Pyrus Communis |
| Sensation | A sport of 'Williams' the fruit has red skin and the leaves are red in spring, best grown with Comice, Conference or Winter Nelis for good pollination. | Pyro Dwarf |
| Strawberry Pear | A critically rare small dessert pear. Known of in just a few wide spread localities in Gloucestershire. All known trees are very tall and are over 100 years old. | Pyrus Communis |
| Taynton Early Squash | There are both Late and Early Taynton Squash, there is uncertainty to which is the true Taynton Squash | Pyrus Communis, Pyro Dwarf |
| White Longdon | Known from Oxenton. Rejoices under a wonderful variety of synonyms. Produces a good to excellent perry | Pyrus Communis, Pyro Dwarf |
| Whinnal's Longdon |
This variety repeatedly won the Long Ashton
perry competition. It was blended with Hendre Huffcap.
|
Pyrus Communis, Pyro Dwarf |
| Williams | Known world wide as "Bartlett" this variety provides regular crops of sweet and juicy fruit, Berkshire 18th Century. | Quince A, Pyrus Communis |
| Winter Nelis | A very late, good cropping variety, fruit ready November - January. Flowers late too, so is more likely to avoid frosts. | Pyrus Communis, Quince A |
| Yellow Huffcap | A large tree, known from Westbury-on-Severn. A heavy cropper producing an excellent quality perry. Widely planted over several hundred years, hence some seven or more synonyms. This pear is noted for the strength and quality of its perry, however fruit should be shaken before it is ripe otherwise it may rot on the tree. | Pyro Dwarf, Pyrus Communis |
Quince A = Semi Vigorous
Pyro Dwarf = Somewhere between Q.A. and P.C.
Pyrus Communis + Kirchensaller = Very Vigorous
Prices:
Bush on Quince A = £16.00-£18.00 depending on size
Maidens on Pyrus Communis, Kirchensaller, Pyro Dwarf and Quince A = £15.00
Straightlead on Pyrus Communis, Kirchensaller, Pyro Dwarf = £18.00-£20.00 depending on size