THE KIEFFER PEAR. 



Fig. 1299.— Kieffer Pear. 



O much has been said and 

 written, both for and against 

 the Kieffer pear, that we hesi- 

 tate to make any further state- 

 ments until the question of real com- 

 mercial value has been more definitely 

 stated. That it is unequalled in pro- 

 ductiveness, cannot be disputed. One 

 tree two years planted, at Maplehurst, 

 bore in 1896 two hundred pears, and 

 a small orchard near by was, in 1897, 

 literally breaking down with immense 

 clusters. 



It varies considerably with different 

 soil and treatment, sometimes growing 

 large and fine, with excellent color, and 

 lacking both in size and appearance. 



Gathered early and ripened indoors, 

 one is surprised at the beautiful rich 

 golden hue it takes on, which goes a 

 long way to command a high price in 

 any market. As a shipper it is un- 

 equalled, continues firm and hard in 

 texture long after its appearance would 



indicate ripeness. Like the Ben Davis 

 apple it is showy on the table, but must 

 be eaten under the most favorable con- 

 ditions to be enjoyed. 



Some sample cases of this variety 

 have already been forwarded to Great 

 Britain, and brought about $3.00 per 

 bushel case, and yet the salesman dis- 

 couraged their shipment because he 

 thought the pear could not be sold a 

 second time to the same persons. 



The variety originated with Peter 

 Kieffer, near Philadelphia, and was a 

 supposed cross between the Chinese 

 Sand and the Anjou. It matures in 

 October and November. 



Meehan's Monthly takes rather a 

 favorable view of this variety as a mar- 

 ket pear, as is shown by the following 

 extract : 



The Kieffer pear, an accidental seed- 

 ling found by an humble French gar- 

 dener residing in Germantown years 

 ago, has marked a new era in pear cul- 



