Descriptions by Hartman and by Hedrick are not in agreement: Originated with Van Mons at Louvain, Belgium in 1841. Fruit small in size, true pyriform. Skin greenish-yellow in color with dark green dots. Flesh somewhat coarse, dry in texture, fairly hard. Lacking in desirable texture and flavor. Late keeper. Tree vigorous, spreading in habit, has lusty, dark green floiage, is fairly productive. Moderately susceptible to fire blight. -- H. Hartman 1957
Description of Marechal de Cour: A seedling of Van Mons of which he sent grafts to Alexandre Bivort, five months before his death, in April, 1842. Fruit large, sometimes very large, oblong-pyriform or obtuse-turbinate, one side always smaller than the other, thickly encrusted with russet so that but little of the yellow ground is visible; flesh white, semi-fine, melting, gritty at center, extremely juicy, sugary, vinous, perfumed; first; Sept. to Nov. -- U.P. Hedrick, 1921