252 FLORIDA FRUITS CHINESE SAND PEARS. 



four years since this fruit first began to attract the atten- 

 tion of Florida fruit growers, and already orchards of five 

 to twenty acres of Le Conte pears are being planted here 

 and there over the State by far-seeing men, whose energy 

 (and means) are equal to their faith. 



From all parts of Florida reports are beginning to come 

 in of the successful fruiting of the few trial trees set out, 

 and before long pear orchards will be no uncommon sight. 

 In some localities they will rival the orange in number and 

 importance. 



At present the Le Conte is the one Chinese sand pear 

 most generally known, because it was the first to be intro- 

 duced, and from it the other varieties have originated 

 some just from the seed, some just as the Le Conte itself 

 originated, from an accidental hybridizing with the Bart- 

 lett pear and of course some years necessarily elapsed be- 

 fore these new sorts could be fruited, or be sufficiently 

 proven to be placed upon the market as distinct varieties. 

 Meantime the Le Conte was winning its way to the front 

 rank and becoming widely known. There are now other 

 pears, however, originating from it, as the mother tree, 

 that are destined to surpass it in public favor as soon as 

 their great merits are generally known. Among these the 

 Kieffer Hybrid, as we shall presently see, stands pre-emi- 

 nent. The history of these several varieties of the Chi- 

 nese sand pears is as follows : 



THE LE CONTE. 



Over forty years ago Major John Le Conte purchased a 

 lot of fruit trees from a New York nurseryman, and 

 among them was one labeled "Chinese Sand Pear." He 

 was told that this tree was of no value, as the fruit would 

 not mature in this country. The Major, however, carried 

 it to Liberty County, Ga., where it "waxed exceeding 



