A valuable autumn dessert pear in Scotland; raised in the neighborhood of Perth, for which climate it is admirably adapted. Fruit medium, obovate-turbinate, yellowish-green in the shade, almost entirely covered with thin russet which is again covered with dots and patches of coarser russet and next the sun dull red, streaked with livelier red, mottled with orange and thickly strewed with large, gray-russety dots; flesh white, semi-buttery, juicy, sugary, perfumed; dessert; Sept.
Crassane. 1. Duhamel Trait. Arb. Fr. 2:166, Pl. XXII. 1768. 2. Downing Fr. Trees Am. 728. 1869.
Bergamotte Crassane. 3. Ann. Pom. Belge 2:61, fig. 1854. 4. Leroy Dict. Pom. 1:231, fig. 1867.
An ancient pear of obscure origin. In the middle of the seventeenth century it was introduced for cultivation in France by La Quintinye, gardener to King Louis XIV. It appears to have derived its name from the Latin word crassus which signifies thick. Some authorities have suggested it was named after the celebrated Roman Consul Marcus Lucinius Crassus who, with Julius Caesar and Pompey, formed the first triumvirate, and who died 53 B.C. The balance of authority is in favor of its having had a French origin. By Belgian and some French and German writers it is known as the Bergamotte Crassane. Fruit medium and above, globular, bossed, flattened at extremities, bright greenish-yellow, veined and dotted with fawn; flesh buttery, melting, tender, of a rich sugary flavor and perfume; a dessert pear of formerly high reputation but rather superseded; Oct. to Dec.
Crassane Libotton. 1. Mas Pom. Gen. 1:13, fig. 7. 1872.
According to the catalog of Van Mons this is a gain of a M. Libotton and is probably Belgian. Fruit small, almost a globe, depressed at both poles; skin thick, intense green, dotted with black spots, sometimes blushed on ripening; flesh white, semi-fine and melting, sweet, vinous, agreeably perfumed; suitable for large orchards; Sept. and Oct.
Crassane du Mortier. 1. Guide Prat. 77. 1895.
Obtained by B. C. Mortier in France. Fruit rather large, turbinate, yellow marked with green; flesh very melting and juicy; first; Nov.
Crawford. 1. Downing Fr. Trees Am. 335. 1845. 2. Ibid. 729. 1869. 3. Bunyard-Thomas Fr. Gard. 139. 1908.
Chalk. 4. Bunyard Handb. Hardy Fr. 163. 1920.