25/04/2023
There are many varieties of pear, most (but not all) of which belong to the species Pyrus communis [syn. Pyrus domestica].
Due to the considerable geographical distribution of pear trees and the tendency of pears to variability, "native" (local, folk) varieties of pears in different localities have been formed since ancient times. Purposeful scientific breeding began not later than XVIII century. In this period, breeding was carried out, in particular, in the Paris Botanical Garden. In the 19th century, the passion for improving pear varieties became quite widespread, and both botanists and amateurs, farmers, entrepreneurs, and even priests (hence the words "abbot" and "duayenne"/"dean" (vicar) in the names of varieties) were engaged in breeding. It became customary to dedicate pear varieties to famous figures, e.g. the 'Duchesse d'Angoulême' variety was dedicated to the Duchess of Angoulême. Sometimes the variety changed its name when it crossed the border. Thus, the variety known in Europe as 'Williams' is more commonly called 'Bartlett' in America; and the variety named in France after the Parisian botanist scientist Louis Bosc ('Bere Bosc') was re-dedicated in Germany to the Russian Emperor Alexander I ('Kaiser Alexander'). By the end of the 19th century, according to the Encyclopedia of Brockhaus and Efron, there were more than a thousand varieties of pears, and their number has only increased in the future.
