PRESENT TREND OF PEAR GROWING 



J. B. CORNELL, Newburgh, N. Y. 



With the great and increasing development in the field of Pomology 

 naturally there should be and are numerous changes in varieties, many of 

 the old standards being eliminated and newer and more desirable ones tak- 

 ing their places. In the case of pears, we meet with almost an exception 

 in the whole line of fruits, for outside of the introduction of the Orientals, 

 the great commercial varieties of today, are varieties that were produced 

 nearly a century ago, while hundreds of new ones have been introduced. We 

 have failed as yet to supplant in popular estimation the Bartlett, Seckel and 

 Bosc. While no one would have the temerity to assert that we have reached 

 the limit of perfection in the pear, we will have to admit that little progress 

 has been made in many years. Our greatest innovation was the introduc- 

 tion of the Kieffer Pear a few years ago ; this pear had a more marked effect 

 on commercial pear culture than any variety that has ever been introduced. 

 It has been very extensively planted in pear growing sections east of the 

 Rocky Mountains. Its popularity has been so great that in the last ten or 

 fifteen years there is little doubt that more of them have been planted than 

 of all other varieties combined. Many growers who have been located in 

 the vicinity of canning factories have found this the most profitable of the 

 whole list. For the past few years the general markets have been over- 

 burdened with this variety much of which has sold for ruinous prices. Evi- 

 dently we have passed the limit of profitable production on this class of 

 stock, whose value is for canning and culinary uses only. There is little or 

 no planting of this variety in this section at present. I think growers 

 of this century, are more alive to the requirements of the markets and 

 the trend is more toward the production of high class fruit. The destruct- 

 ive effects on orchards of the severity of the winter of 1903-4 seems to be 

 more largely confined to the valley of the Hudson River. Here it was wide 

 spread and disastrous. It has given a set back to commercial pear culture in 

 this district that the next generation will hardly see repaired. Many 

 orchardists who lost their pear trees are replanting the ground with apples 

 and other fruits. 



It seems to be the censensus of opinion that for several years past the 

 planting of pears has not kept place relatively with other orchard fruits 

 and this applies with especial force to the high grade varieties. With 

 largely increased demand for choice pears one would think that there was 

 little fear of over production for many years to come. 



