Clapp's Favorite (Clapp's Favorite)

This summer variety was obtained by T. Clapp in 1860 in the USA from seed of the 'Forest Beauty' variety.

One of the most widely grown summer pear varieties. It is registered in the North Caucasus and Lower Volga regions. It is also widely grown in Ukraine, Moldova, Belarus, the Baltic republics, and Central Asia. One of the best summer varieties for commercial production, as well as for home and farm gardens.

Tree medium- to strongly-growing. Young trees are fast-growing, forming a sparse, pyramidal crown; as it ages, the crown becomes broadly rounded, sparse, with slightly hanging branches. Main branches are thick, poorly branching, departing from the trunk at a 45° angle. Bark on the trunk is slightly shedding, on main branches smooth, brownish-gray; wood is weak, brittle.

Shoots are long, thick, straight, dark brown, with a purplish tint, short internodes; numerous stipules, gray in color. Leaves are medium-sized, elliptic or oval-egg-shaped, tapering at the base, short-pointed, shiny, leathery, hairless, with finely serrated edges, dark green in color. Petiole is long, thin, light green, bare.

Flowers are white, large, show double-flowering, arranged in clusters of 6-7. Flowering occurs at medium time, prolonged.

Fruits are above average size, and on young trees large, egg-shaped with a tapering tip. Skin is smooth, tender. Main color at maturity is yellow, with a bright carmine blush on the sun-exposed side of the fruit. Fruit surface is covered with noticeable small subcutaneous dots. Occasionally, at the base or apex of the fruit, there is a slight rust-like discoloration in the form of small spots. Peduncle is medium length and thickness, or thick, slightly curved, thickened at the attachment point. Blemish is very small, or completely absent. Calyx is open, dish is small, narrow, slightly wrinkled or entirely smooth. Heart is weakly expressed, medium size, broadly elliptical. Seed chambers are medium-sized, egg-shaped, with a hollow axis. Seeds are small, dark brown, well-formed.

Flesh is white, tender, melting, very juicy, slightly acidic-sweet, very good flavor. Contains: dry matter — 13.7%, sugars — 8.3%, titratable acids — 0.4%, ascorbic acid — 6.6 mg/100g, P-active catechins — 39.4 mg/100g dry matter.

Harvesting period for fruit ripening occurs in the Kuban region from July 28 to August 8, in mountainous areas — in the second decade of August. Storage life is 10-15 days. Harvesting too early or too late negatively affects fruit quality. Before biological maturity, fruits firmly remain on the tree, but tend to drop upon ripening. Therefore, fruits should be harvested 10 days prior to maturity. Their transportability is good. Fruits are mainly consumed fresh. Suitable for making compotes (rating 4 points). For preservation in compotes, the best stage of fruit maturity is the beginning of yellowing and softening of flesh. In drying, ripe fruits yield good quality products with a rating of 4 points.

Self-incompatible. Best pollinators: Bere Ziffar, Williams, Forest Beauty, Olivier de Serre. Not demanding to soil conditions, but begins fruiting earlier on light soils than on heavy clay. Poorly grows on wet, poorly drained, saline, or with a shallow gravel layer. Under drought conditions, fruits are small and severely damaged by medflies.

Enters fruiting in the 7-8 year after planting in the garden, fruits regularly and abundantly with age. Average yield in the central part of Kuban at 15-20 years — 150-180 centners/ha, in foothill areas at 24-26 years — 250-300 centners/ha. Not compatible with apple. High cold and drought resistance. Severely affected by scab.

Advantages of the variety: good winter hardiness, low soil requirements, regular fruiting and excellent fruit flavor.

Disadvantages of the variety: insufficient fruit attachment strength at maturity and short storage life.

Widely used in breeding. Approximately twenty new varieties have been developed using 'Clapp's Favorite', five of which are registered (regionally approved): 'Nalchikskaya Kostyka' (Bere Ardanpon × Clapp's Favorite) by SKZNIIGiPS, 'Naryadnaya Efimova' (Tonkovetka × Clapp's Favorite) by VSTISP, 'Orlovskaya Letnya' (Bergamot Novik × Clapp's Favorite) by VNIISPК, 'Severyanka' [(Ussuriyskaya × Bere Ligela) × Clapp's Favorite] by VNIIGiSPR, 'Tatyana' (Clapp's Favorite × Bere Zimnya Michurina) by Rossohskaya ZPЯОС.