Mentioned by Rea as being cultivated in England in 1665 under the name of Great Russet of Remes, under which name it was also known in France, there being known these two varieties, the Gros Rousselet de Rheims and the Petit-Rousselet. Father Rapin, a French Jesuit, who wrote in 1666 the poem Hortorum, mentioned the pears of Rousselet in the Valley of Amiterne at the foot of the Apennines. In 1783 the German pomologist Henri Manger wrote that he believed the French Rousselet was none other than the Roman Favonianum mentioned by Pliny. Fruit medium, obtuse-pyriform, yellowish or bright green changing to bright lemon-yellow, covered with numerous small brown spots, red on the side next the sun; flesh yellowish, semi-melting, semi-breaking, rich in sugary and perfumed juice; variable in quality, requires a warm, sheltered position; Aug. and Sept.
Gros Rousselet d’Aout. 1. Ann. Pom. Belge 8:53, fig. 1860. 2. Downing Fr. Trees Am. 776. 1869.
Rousselet d’Aout. 3. Pom. France 2:No. 83, Pl. 83. 1863.
This was one of the first seedlings raised by Van Mons and is 201 in his catalog of 1823. Fruit medium, pyriform, yellow washed with rose-red; flesh fine, melting, juicy, sugary, acidulous, with an agreeable perfume; a very good early fruit, ripening in August in Belgium.
Gros Trouvé. 1. Guide Prat. 95. 1876.
This seedling was found by Gabriel Everard in a garden at Tournai, Bel. Fruit very large, fusiform, washed with red on the side next the sun; flesh breaking; first for kitchen purposes; keeps until the autumn of the year following.
Grosse Eisbirne. 1. Dochnahl Führ. Obstkunde 2:188. 1856.
Reported in 1802. Fruit medium, onion-shaped; skin very smooth, shining and greasy, yellowish-green changing to light citron-yellow, often somewhat blushed; flesh coarse, solid and dry; third for the table, first for culinary use; Oct.
Grosse Figue. 1. Guide Prat. 95, 278. 1876.