Passe Crassane
Passe Crassane – this pear varietie in Georgia is know under the name of „Tamrikos msquali“. This sort is quite common everywhere in Eastern Georgia, it is especially popular in Kakhetia and nearly as much as in Karthli. The limited commercial importance of Passe Crassane is due to the fact of its branches being so small as it causes easily dropping of fruits.
Fruit
The fruit is of a medium size, rounded spherical, in shape reminding that of Esperen’s Bergamotte; setting by 3-4 clusters. Skin thin, firm, slightly rugose, at harvest maturity greenish gray, when fully mature orange yellow, dotted with russet. Flesh yellow-white, very juicy, melting, very sweet, slightly acid, with a low content of tannins. Fruit ripen for use in December, keep till March. Their keeping quality depends upon the time of picking: if picked early they shrivel in storage, if picked late, they mature rapidly, curtailing the keeping period.
Tree
Tree hardy, top pyramidal; flowers cold resistant, self-sterile, with Beurré Bock as a good pollinator; blooming late and protracted; fruits sometimes parthenocarpic greatly susceptible to Laspeyresia pomonella.
Passe Crassane belongs to the group of heavy producers, though fruiting periodically. High productivity and the excellent quality of the fruit give Passe Crassane the importance of a commercial sort, though exclusively in warm and protected from windy locations.
