THE KIEFFER AND LE CONTE PEARS. 



THE Kieffer and Le Conte pears 

 were introduced many years ago, 

 and at first found favor. In Cali- 

 fornia they were soon discarded, the 

 Kieffer especially being treated to col- 

 umns of sarcasm anent its pumpkin-like 

 flavor. Those, however, Hke many in 

 the southern and southwestern states 

 who have persevered, have discovered 



color, and not till then should it be 

 put on the market. Both varieties are 

 vigorous growers, with large, shining 

 leaves, and both are good and regular 

 bearers. The Le Conte is particularly 

 a success in the southern states, and 

 its cultivation has assumed large pro- 

 portions commercially. These pears 

 seem almost exempt from disease, which 



Fig. 136,3.— Kieffer Pear. 



great value even in the Kieffer when 

 it is properly harvested. This variety 

 is a cross between the Bartlett and the 

 Sand pear of Asia, the Le Conte also 

 being a hybrid with Oriental blood, and 

 both show it plainly in habit of growth. 

 It is necessary that the Kieffer be laid 

 away in a store room until it gets its 



is not the least recommendation. Plant- 

 ed even as a stock on which to subse- 

 quently graft other varieties, they are 

 valuable, and as such they should be on 

 their own roots (raised from cuttings), 

 or on their own seedlings. The Asiatic 

 pears make admirable stocks, and will 

 no doubt supersede all others. 



PEAR BLIGHT. 



Look over your pear trees and cut 

 out all limbs that show blight — and 

 mind this to cut 15 to 20 inches in the 

 sound wood below the dead bark. Be 

 careful about this. If you only just cut 

 out the dead wood, before the summer 

 is half gone you will find your trees just 

 about in as bad fix as if you had not 

 cut any. Have a heap of courage and 

 a sharp saw and you may save valuable 

 trees to bear crops of fruit for a number 

 of years. I know what I am writing 



about, for I have been all along this 

 line for over twenty years. Now, I will 

 say this : The Bartlett is a variety that 

 will blight, and still live and bear fruit, 

 maybe for some years, but it is the only 

 one that I know of, and it will help the 

 Bartlett to cut the blight out. I am 

 satisfied that we have as yet no such a 

 thing as blight proof pear trees, and all 

 who offer such for sale should be re- 

 garded as frauds or fools. — Rural 

 World. 



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