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A man with core skills

From the archive, first published Friday 19th Jan 2001.

I READ with interest the account of the Orchard Survey of Worcester given by Michael Grundy in the Evening News (January 6).

It is, however, most disappointing that a myth is again perpetuated about the "William" or "Williams" pear being introduced by John Williams (1773-1853) of Pitmaston. Williams' Bon Chretien pear was raised about 1770, before John Williams was born, by a man named Stair of Aldermaston but took its name "Williams" from the nurseryman who distributed it.

It was exported to North America and then acquired the name Bartlett from the importer (ref: A Handbook of Hardy Fruits: Apples and Pears by Edward Bunyard).

The account of the breeding work of John Williams is somewhat cursory. John Williams was responsible for producing more than the one pear and three apples mentioned and was also engaged in extensive experimental breeding involving a wider range of fruits, including strawberry, raspberry, gooseberry, grape, peach, nectarine, red currant, and fig.

Some of his introductions were named and brought into cultivation and others were unnamed seedlings. Accounts of these were given in reports to the (Royal) Horticultural Society of London. Some of his introductions disappeared from cultivation, but some survived and extant apples and pears are now held in the national collection at Brogdale, Kent.

John Williams was indeed, at both local and national levels, an important figure in horticulture in the 19th Century and Worcester can be proud of this pioneer in plant breeding.

DR MURRAY MYLECHREEST,

Hon Research Fellow,

University College Worcester.

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