Grosse Queue. 1. Leroy Dict. Pom. 2:257, fig. 1869.
This variety probably originated about 1653 when Nicolas de Bonnefond named it in his Jardinier francais. In 1675, however, Merlet gave a rather complete description of it and a few years later it was admitted by La Quintinye into the orchard of Louis XIV at Versailles. Fruit medium, rather variable, always globular in the lower part, bossed and more or less conic near the summit, a little wrinkled especially on the side next the sun, olive-yellow, finely rayed and dotted with clear green, and washed with carmine on the exposed face; flesh very white, semi-fine, breaking or semi-melting, juice deficient, sweet mingled with sourness, musky; third; Sept. and Oct.
Grosse Rommelter. 1. Guide Prat. 96. 1876.
A French pear valued for perry making. Fruit medium, globular, green; first for perry; Oct. Tree very vigorous, extraordinarily fertile and succeeding everywhere.
Grosse schöne Jungfernbirne. 1. Liegel Syst. Anleit. 124. 1825.
German. Reported 1805. Fruit below medium, ventriculous-pyriform, sides rather unequal; skin extremely smooth, light yellowish-green turning to greenish-yellow, often washed with a slight brownish blush; second for dessert, first for the kitchen; end of Aug. for two weeks.
Grosse September Birne. 1. Mathieu Nom. Pom. 226. 1889.
Belle de Septembre. 2. Leroy Dict. Pom. 1:211, fig. 1867.
An old variety originated in Prussia and cultivated chiefly in the north of Germany and especially in Pomerania. Fruit above medium and sometimes large, oblong or globular-turbinate, generally having unequal sides, pale yellow, stained with fawn, finely dotted with gray and sometimes washed with brown-red on the cheek exposed to the sun; flesh greenish, fine, semi-melting, rarely gritty; juice abundant, saccharine, perfumed, delicate but rather astringent; second; end of Sept.
Grosse Sommer-Zitronenbirne. 1. Dochnahl Führ. Obstkunde 2:24. 1856.