Pear scab

A terrible year for pear scab, mostly affecting foliage. The usual suspects all succumbed, but to a worse degree, and others varieties suffered for the first time. Worst affected are Santa Claus and Devoe, but Fondante d'Automne and Beurré Gris d'Hiver Nouveau have also showing a lot of yellow/blackened foliage. I think the explanation lies in the very warm spring, which encouraged a lot of soft growth which has succumbed during the colder, more humid months of true summer. Only the fruits of Santa Claus are affected, and only in a particularly dank corner.

Beurré Gris d'Hiver Nouveau

A similar spur on Gris d'Hiver - decided to leave these a little longer as they didn't want to part easily from the spur.

Beurré Gris d'Hiver Nouveau

Only one of these, but a large pear similar in size and shape to Comice. I wasn't able to eat any, but my husbands verdict was sweet, very juicy with a buttery quality, but also slightly coarse and gritty, especially near the core.

Beurré gris d'Hiver nouveau: set

A disappointing sole fruitlet on my Beurré gris d'Hiver nouveau stepover this year despite the copious blossom and wide range of pollinators. Perhaps not surprising as it was only planted last year as a maiden. Still very pleasing to see home-grafted trees coming into production, albeit modest.

Beurré gris d'Hiver (sometimes 'nouveau') appears to be distinct from Beurré gris (syn. Brown Beurre). This description is from 'The fruit manual' by Hogg (1860):

"Beurre Gris d'Hiver (Beurre Gris d' Hiver Nouveau; Beurre de Lucon).—Fruit large, roundish. Skin entirely covered with thin brown russet, and tinged with brownish-red next the sun. Eye small, set in a very shallow basin. Stalk short and thick, inserted in a small cavity. Flesh white, melting and juicy, sugary and slightly perfumed.

A good late pear when grown in a warm situation, but otherwise coarse-grained and gritty. Ripe from January till March. It is best from a wall."

The Fruit Manual, Robert Hogg, 1860

I hope the singleton survives so I can find out whether Hogg was right or not.