Scions from a tree at the Kentville, Nova Scotia Agricultural Experiment Station planted in 1970. Originated in Geneva, N.Y., by Richard Wellington, New York State Agriculture Experiment Station. Introduced in 1935. Bartlett x Dorset; cross made in 1921; first full crop in 1921. Fruit: one of largest of all pears; similar to Bartlett, but not as pale yellow; flesh tender, granular; develops best quality after a period of cold storage; season December to January. Tree: spreading, dense; vigorous and productive. -- Brooks and Olmo Register of New Fruit and Nut Varieties.
From extension publication 824 (Farmers' Bulletin 156) "Pear Growing in the Annapolis Valley" by R.D.L. Bligh, Experimental Farms Service, Ottawa, Canada, 1949: Covert. —The young tree is hardy, vigorous and comes in bearing early, and is a prodigious cropper. The fruits resemble Bartlett in colour and shape but are much larger and heavier and drop readily near harvest. The season is supposed to be two months later than Bartlett, but it has ripened with us about mid-November. The fruit is firm and handles well, and canning tests indicate the product is near Bartlett quality and much better than the Kieffer canned product. It is meeting with enthusiastic grower acceptance in New York State. Worthy of trial.
In his 1964 book 'Dwarf Fruit Trees for Orchard, Garden and Home" Harold Tukey listed Covert as one of the pear cultivars that is graft compatible with quince rootstock.