Besi d'Hery 
Originated in Brittany, France, about 1598.
Fruit medium or smaller in size, globular in form. Skin deep yellow, usually with prominent red cheek, quite free of blemish, very attractive. Flesh moderately fine, hard in texture, lacking in juiciness. Fairly sweet but somewhat bitter in taste. Late keeper. Tree reasonably vigorous, wide spreading in habit, average foliage, moderately susceptible to blight.
- H. Hartman, 1957

Black Worcester
Possibly of French origin. British references to this cultivar date back to 1575.
Also know as 'Black Pear of Worcester' or Parkinson's 'Warden' or baking pear. Several authors make this a synonym of the French 'Poire de Livre' or 'Livre'. May be the same as a 'Pound Pear' grown by the Romans during the first century. Fruit large, obovate; skin thick, green, rough, nearly covered with dark russet, occasionally with a dull tinge on the sun side; calyx small, nearly closed, set in a wide and rather deep basin; stem about an inch long, very stout and woody, inserted without depression; flesh pale yellow, hard, crisp, coarse, flavorless, rather gritty. Tree: vigorous, hardy, bears well; young shoots dark yellow-olive, diverging. A good cooking pear. November to February.
- U.P. Hedrick, 1921

Bon Chretien d'Hiver
^{France from Italy in 1495}
A volume might be filled with a record of the endeavors to determine the origin of this pear. As to its great antiquity all are agreed. It is established that it was imported into France from Italy in 1495 by Charles VIII on his conquest of the kingdom of Naples, but whether it was the 'Crustuminum' of the Romans or whether it received its name at the beginning of Christianity remains uncertain. One explanation of the name was that Francois de Paul, the founder of a monkish order, being called to the court of Louis XI for the recovery of his health, was styled by that monarch "le bon Chretien" and that he brought with him from Calabria some of this fruit which henceforth acquired the name it bears. That suggestion, however, is evidently erroneous as Saint Froncois de Paul's visit to the King at Tours took place in 1483 whereas this pear was introduced to France in 1495. It is thought not improbable that the name is derived from the Greek panchresta, meaning "all good" of which the Latin Crustuminum of the Romans may also be a derivation. Fruit large and sometimes very large, variable in form, irregularly pyriform or obovate-turbinate, rather rough to the touch, dull greenish-yellow, some brown next to the sun, and strewed with small, russet dots; flesh whitish, crisp, juicy, sweet, aromatic and vinous; a dessert pear of merit, first class for cooking; December to March.
- U.P. Hedrick, 1921

Messire Jean
Origin uncertain.
Reference to the variety in French pomological literature dates back to 1550 or possibly to 1540. Listed in the catalog of Prince Nurseries, Long Island, New York as early as 1771. A small- fruited pear resembling 'Winter Nelis' in form, color and pleasing flavor but decidedly inferior to 'Winter Nelis' in dessert quality. Late keeper but withers badly in storage. Tree fairly vigorous, true dwarf on quince, inclined toward biennial bearing. Moderately susceptible to blight.
- H. Hartman, 1957

Petit Blanquet
Apparently there is no authentic record of the origin of this variety. According to Leroy it was well known in French gardens as early as the middle of the sixteenth century. Fruit very small in size, usually obtuse-pyriform but quite variable in shape. Skin clear, straw-colored, waxy, few green dots. Flesh moderately fine, firm, not juicy. Sweet but lacking in desirable flavor and texture characteristics. Early in season. First known in Europe under the name of 'Perle'.
- H. Hartman, 1957

Petit Muscat
Jean Mayer, director of the gardens of the Grand Duke of Wurtzburg, Bavaria, in his Pomona Franconica published in 1801 showed that the Petit Muscat was the antique pear 'Superba' described by Pliny. Various other pomologists wrote of it prior to Mayer... Charles Estienne was the first to write of it in France in 1530, and he named it 'Musquette'. Fruit very small, turbinate, more or less obtuse and sometimes globular-turbinate; the eye is placed in a regular-formed cavity and is always naked in consequence of the segments of the calyx falling off, pale greenish-yellow, finely dotted and slightly clouded with rose on the side of the sun (in France); flesh yellowish, semi-fine, breaking, not very juicy, sugary, acidulous and with a pleasant musk flavor; second; June.
- U.P. Hedrick, 1921

Red Pear
^{France from Italy in 1495}
A perry pear grown largely in Herefordshire, England. ^{France from Italy in 1495} Fruit: small, globular, even and regular in outline, inclining to turbinate, almost entirely covered with rather bright red, yellow around the stalk where shaded, sprinkled all over with pale gray dots; flesh quite yellow firm, dry and gritty.
- U.P. Hedrick, 1921

Rousselet de Reims
This pear is of very ancient and uncertain origin. Many authors have tried to trace it back to Roman times. Pliny and other ancient horticulturists did not give adequate descriptions to allow certain identification. It is clear that the Rousselet de Rheins has existed, particularly around the city of Reims, France for many centuries. It is said to have been the favorite pear of King Louis XIV. Fruit small, turbinate, rarely very obtuse; skin bright green or yellow-green, sprinkled with large and small gray-russet dots and extensively shaded with reddish-brown on the side to the sun; flesh white, fine or semi-fine, almost melting, not very juicy, righ in sugar, acidulous, refreshing, highly perfuned; a little later than Bartlett in season, susceptible to core breakdown. One of the best early pears for dessert, very good for candying. September. Moderately susceptible to blight. Tree very vigorous, spreading and willowy in habit, almost standard tree on quince, productive.
- H. Hartman, 1957
- U.P. Hedrick, 1921

Sanguinole
Very similar or identical to 'Summer Blutbirne' (blood pear) from Germany, 'Rotkottig frau Ostergotland' (red flesh from Ostergotland) in Sweden, and 'Lubenicarka' (watermellon pear) from former Yugoslavia. This old pear is of consequence only on account of the color of its flesh. According to Claude Mollet, 1810, it was imported to France from Switzerland. It was known in Germany in 1500. Fruit: below medium or small, variable in form, turbinate- obtuse, or globular, bossed; skin rather thick and rough, green dotted with gray and red, sprinkled with streaks and patches of russet, and sometimes slightly carmined on the face exposed to the sun; flesh transparent, red, simi-fine, semi-breaking, juicy, saccharine, acidulous, more or less musky, agreeable; second sometimes third (Hedrick's rating) the flesh decomposing rapidly; August and September.
- U.P. Hedrick, 1921

Spina Carpi
Originated in Italy about 1575. Synonyms include 'Casentina' and 'Duchessa di Montebello'. There is recent renewed interest in this cultivar as a source of resistance to the pear psylla.

Sucree Verte
The name means "Sweet Green" in English. Origin obscure. Believed to have come from Barmont, a chateau on the boundary of Burgundy. Described as early as 1598. Well known in Paris by 1670. Fruit small in size, roundish-turbinate in form. Skin smooth, glossy, intense green in color with inconspicuous dots. Flesh white, fine, but with some grit at the center, buttery, juicy. Fairly sweet, nut-like aroma, pleasing flavor. Early midseason. Tree vigorous, spreading in habit, very productive. Moderately susceptible to blight.
- H. Hartman, 1957

Verte Longue d'Automne
The name means 'Long Green of Autumn'. Not to be confused with 'Longue Vert' which is a distinct variety. The origin of this ancient variety is uncertain. It is known to have been grown extensively in France 500 years ago. The German author, Henry Munger, considered it identical with the variety 'Viridium' supposedly described by Pliny during the first century A.D. The validity of this deduction, however, was questioned by European authors of a later period. Fruit medium in size, obtuse-turbinate in form, sometimes lopsided. Skin generally green in color with prominent gray dots. Flesh fine, melting, juicy. Usually quite sweet and pleasing in flavor but may be of mediocre quality unless properly grown and handled. Early midseason. Tree vogorous, upright in habit, fairly productive. Quite susceptible to blight.