Cultivar 335: Andrew

Andrew is a University of Saskatchewan pear introduction from 1960, listed as PR No. 1 and described as a cross of Pyrus ussuriensis and Bartlett. It is a prairie bred hardy pear in the Ussurian hybrid group. Surviving descriptions are practical rather than celebratory. [S1] [S3]

University of Saskatchewan introduction records place it under non irrigated field conditions at Saskatoon. It was noted as an early September pear. The fruit was described as about 2 inches by 2 inches, thin skinned, and of fair to good quality, but it broke down quickly after harvest. [S3]

Later Saskatchewan guidance gave Andrew a blunt assessment: a 2 inch pear that was not recommended because of inferior quality and severe core browning. That fits the broader warning on these prairie pears that they should be picked before fully ripe and finished indoors, or the core may brown. The same source also notes that fireblight can be a serious problem in University of Saskatchewan pear introductions. [S2]

Andrew matters more as an early prairie breeding result than as a lasting dessert pear. Its parentage shows the usual aim of combining Pyrus ussuriensis hardiness with Bartlett quality, but the recorded outcome suggests a serviceable fruit with weak keeping quality and internal breakdown problems. There is no direct zone claim here, though its Saskatchewan breeding and Saskatoon test context place it within the Prairie hardiness program. [S1] [S2] [S3]

Summary source basis

• S1: An index of fruit cultivars tested or developed on the Canadian prairies.
• S2: hortfacts_1976_3.pdf
• S3: University of Saskatchewan fruit introductions 1959-1960

This summary currently draws chiefly from University of Saskatchewan fruit introductions 1959-1960, with 2 additional supporting sources linked below.

Featured source descriptions

“Not recommended because of inferiority in quality and severe core browning.”
— ^[3]

Direct parent cultivars

• No direct linked parent cultivars promoted yet.

Parentage claim text

• Origin listed as P. ussuriensis x 'Barlett'.
• Parentage is P. ussuriensis x Bartlett.

Derived or downstream cultivar links

• No derived or downstream lineage links yet.

Source-story quotations

• PR No. 1 Andrew P. ussuriensis x Bartlett 1960 2" x 2" under field conditions, without irrigation, at Saskatoon, early Sept. thin skinned and of fair to good quality breaks down quickly.University of Saskatchewan fruit introductions 1959-1960, p5
• PR No. 1 Andrew P. ussuriensis x Bartlett 1960 2" x 2" under field conditions, without irrigation, at Saskatoon, early Sept. thin skinned and of fair to good quality breaks down quickly.University of Saskatchewan fruit introductions 1959-1960, p5
• PR No. 1 Andrew P. ussuriensis x Bartlett 1960 2" x 2" under field conditions, without irrigation, at Saskatoon, early Sept. thin skinned and of fair to good quality breaks down quickly.University of Saskatchewan fruit introductions 1959-1960, p5
• PR No. 1 Andrew P. ussuriensis x Bartlett 1960 2" x 2" under field conditions, without irrigation, at Saskatoon, early Sept. thin skinned and of fair to good quality breaks down quickly.University of Saskatchewan fruit introductions 1959-1960, p5

Taxonomy context: No family-tree context surfaced yet.

Related cultivars mentioned in source context