LUTHER BURBANK 
similar origin, including the Le Conte, the Garber, 
and the Smith. These hybrids soon became stand- 
ard pears in the Gulf States, where the European 
pears do not thrive. 
MAMMOTH PEARS IN CALIFORNIA 
The hybrid pears did not gain popularity in 
California, because the climate and soil of this 
state seemed to be peculiarly hospitable to the 
European pears, notably the Bartlett. 
By crossbreeding and selection these have 
been so developed, without hybridization with the 
oriental species, as to assume almost colossal pro- 
portions, and while differing widely in flavor from 
the original stock, to retain enough characteristics 
of the original to constitute a most valuable mar- 
ket fruit. 
The California pears, indeed, have quite out- 
done themselves. They have been described as 
“grand in size, delicate in color and aroma, and of 
unsurpassed richness.” A specimen has been re- 
ported that was “nine inches high, sixteen inches 
around the base, and five pounds in weight.” 
Pears of allied varieties show scarcely less 
notable tendency to grow to unprecedented size; 
for example, five Vicar of Winkfields are reported 
as weighing four pounds, eight ounces; nine Easter 
Beurre as weighing 2414 pounds, the heaviest sin- _ 
gle specimen weighing 2°4 pounds, and the like. 
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