The Pekin Pear or Pal 11 (White Pear). 



Both the Keiffer and LeConte varieties of pear which 

 are extensively grown in America have shown a fair degree 

 of immunity to the pear blight, a very destructive bac- 

 terial disease. These varieties are believed to be cross- 

 es between varieties of the Chinese pear (Pyrus chinensis) 

 and the European pear (Pyrus cominunis ) . Unfortunately, 

 neither the Keiffer nor the LeConte Is of high quality, 

 having inherited a certain coarseness from the Chinese pa- 

 rent. The introduction of the Pai li or white pear of 

 Pekin, considered the finest variety in North China, will 

 probably interest the pear breeders and may lead to the 

 production of better flavored blight-resistant pears. 

 Photo No. 13030 by Frank N. Meyer, Oct. 18, 1913, Pekin, 

 China. 



