NCGR Pears Originating Before 1600

Besi d'Hery - Originated in Brittany, France about 1598. Blight susceptible.

Black Worcester - British refernces to 1575, although possibly of French origin. May be same as French cultivar 'de Livre'.

Bon Chretien d'Hiver - Reported as early as 1495 in Europe. d'Hiver refers to winter, ie. late ripening storage pear.

Messire Jean - Earliest reference is from 1550 in French Pomological lit. Blight susceptible.

Petit Muscat - Originated in France about 1530.

Petit Blanquet - Well known in French gardens by mid-1500's. Small fruits.

Red Pear - Perry pear. Originated in England about 1500. Blooms late.

Rousselet de Rheims - Very ancient. Has been grown around the French city of Reims for several centuries. A favorite of Louis XIV. Probably traces back to Roman times.

Sanguinole - Originated in Germany about 1500. Blood red streaks in flesh.

Sotoorhime - Very old cultivar from the Tohoku area of Japan.

Spina Carpi - Originated in Italy about 1575. Psylla resistant.

Sucree Verte - Described in 1598, well known in France by 1670. Fruit small, blight resistant, sweet, intense green skin.

Verte Longue d'Automne - Cultivated extensively in France by the 1500's. Not to be confused with Longue Verte.

Tse Li - Grown in China for THOUSANDS of years!