VARIETIES OF PEARS 303 



pear in North America excepting Bartlett. Nurserymen like it 

 because of all pears the trees of Kieffer are most easily grown ; 

 and in the orchard they are uniformly the 

 most vigorous, fruitful, endure heat best, are 

 least susceptible to blight, and withstand best 

 the ravages of San Jose scale. On the other 

 hand, the trees are tender to cold, in some 

 soils refuse to set fruit, are often self -sterile, 

 and sometimes with the best of care bear only 

 pears of small size. Worthless for dessert, 

 cooking removes the disagreeable natural 

 taste of the raw pear, and leaves a good prod- 

 uct. Canned, the pears retain their shape, fig. 126. Kieffer. 

 color, and flavor well ; therefore, and because 

 of white and inviting flesh, Kieffers are preferred by commercial 

 canners. Peter Kieffer, who lived near Philadelphia, grew the 

 original Kieffer tree which fruited first in 1863. 



Tree of medium size, vigorous, upright, dense-topped, hardy, very pro- 

 ductive. Fruit matures in late October and November; above medium to 

 large, 2% inches long, 21^ inches wide, oval, narrowing at both ends; uni- 

 form; stem 1 inch long, thick; cavity very small, smooth; calyx open; lobes 

 separated at the base, short, narrow, acute; basin shallow, narrow, obtuse, 

 smooth; skin thick, tough, smooth; color yellow, occasionally blushed with 

 dull pinkish-red; dots numerous, small, russet, conspicuous; flesh yellowish- 

 white, very granular and coarse, crisp, juicy; not sweet, often astringent; 

 quality poor; core large, closed, wdth clasping core-lines; calyx-tube short, 

 wide, conical; seeds wide, plump, acute. 



469. Sudduth is a standard sort in parts of the Mississippi 

 Valley. The characters which give it a place are : remarkable 

 freedom from blight ; hardiness to cold and heat ; capacity to 

 withstand drought; early bearing; and great productiveness. 

 The fruits are neither attractive in appearance nor high in 

 quality, but they do very well for all culinary purposes. The 

 pears do not keep well, as they soften at the center soon after 

 becoming edible. The trees are nearly as hardy as those of the 

 wild crab-apple. Sudduth originated from seed planted by 

 Thomas Constant in 1820, in Sangamon County, Illinois. 



Tree large, vigorous, upright-spreading, open-topped, hardy, productive. 

 Fruit ripe in late September-October; medium or below in size, 2i/4 inches 



