1279 



and as such is worthy of a trial in California, where 

 early varieties of the Guatemalan race are needed. 

 Its only visible defect is its somewhat large seed. 

 The quality is good and the fruit is attractive in 

 appearance. This location is not sufficiently high to 

 experience cold weather, hence the variety must be 

 assumed to be of average hardiness for the Guatemal- 

 an race until it can be given a trial in the United 

 States. The productiveness of this variety is some- 

 what in doubt. The crop harvested in 1917 was not 

 large. The tree bloomed heavily in December and was 

 setting a good crop when last seen. The season of 

 ripening extends from October to the first of December. 

 Probably the fruits would remain on the tree later 

 than December if given an opportunity to do so, but as 

 avocados are very scarce at this season of the year 

 they are picked as soon as mature. The form of the 

 fruits, pear shaped to obovoid, is attractive, as is 

 the deep maroon color which they assume upon ripening. 

 They are of convenient size, about 12 ounces, and the 

 flesh is yellow and of good quality. The seed is larger 

 than in the best late varieties, but not unreasonably 

 large. It is tight in the cavity." (Popenoe.) 



Pyrus calleryana (Malaceae), 45592. Wild pear. From 

 China. Collected by Mr. Frank N. Meyer, Agricultural 

 Explorer for this Department. "(No. 2453a. Kingmen, 

 Hupeh, China. October 1917.) Over 100 pounds of seed 

 of a small-fruited wild pear which has proven to be 

 highly resistant, but not totally immune to fire- 

 blight in the innoculation experiments of Professor 

 F. C. Relmer at Talent, Oregon. This pear grows in a 

 variety of habitats, as at the edges of ponds, in dense 

 thickets, on rocky mountain slopes, in crevices, etc. 

 It is used by the Chinese as a stock for improved pears , 

 and seems to make a good union. When left alone it 

 grows into a large tree reaching an old age. Where 

 this pear occurs around Kingmen, Pyrus betulaefolia also 

 is found and, since it resembles P. calleryana to a strik- 

 ing degree, it is impossible, when collecting a large 

 number of fruits, to keep it out entirely. There is, 

 therefore a certain percentage of seed of this pear 

 mixed with that of P. calleryana. As P. betulaefolia is high- 

 ly susceptible to blight, rogueing in the seed beds or 

 nursery plantings of P. calleryana should be carefully 

 done. To insure pure seeds for future stock purposes, 

 groves should be set out here and there, away from 

 other species and varieties of pears , so as to minimize 



