ON THE PEAR 



thing appears to be true, at least in some measure, 

 of the other hybrids that have the Oriental strain. 

 So there is every reason to hope that we shall be 

 able to develop races of pears, having all desirable 

 qualities of fruit for the different markets, that 

 ■will be free from the pest that hitherto has made 

 the raising of this fruit a more or less precarious 

 industry. 



Ideals and Possibilities 



As to the other needs and possibilities of pear 

 development, not much need be said. Reference 

 has elsewhere been made to the desirability of 

 giving the pear a brilliant color; but this can 

 doubtless be accomplished without great difiiculty. 

 It has also been noted that as ta size of fruit, as 

 well as in the matter of form, there is little to be 

 desired by way of change. 



There is, however, one quality' that the special- 

 ized pears have markedly lacked. They will keep 

 for a time if plucked while green, and will ripen 

 off the ti'ee. But if allowed to ripen on the tree 

 they decay very quickly after picking. It is ob- 

 viously desirable that the pear should be given 

 keeping qualities. But here, as in case of im- 

 munity to the blight, the solution is already in 

 sight. 



Among the varied fruits of my hybrid seed- 

 lings, there are some that produce winter pears 



[135] 



