154 



FLORIDA FRUITS. 



kieffer's hybrid. 



In the year 1868, Peter Kieffer, of Philadelphia, planted a 

 quantity of seeds of a Chinese sand pear in his garden. One of 

 the seedlings thus raised proved to be the bearer of a new 

 variety of pear, and one of exceeding merit in every respect. 

 This seedling commenced bearing in the year 1873, five years 

 from germination of the seed, and has borne full crops every 

 year since, the quantity steadily increasing with the bearing 

 surface of the tree. In the fall of 1877 it yielded four bushels, 

 the next eight, and so up to the present season the yield has 

 gone on stetulily increasing. 



Wherever the Kieffer Hybrid has been exhibited it has 

 taken the first prize as the best blight-proof hybrid seedling, and 

 in the markets it always commands a higher price than any 

 others. The fruit is large, measuring from ten to twelve inches 

 around ; is double turbinate in shape, pointed at both ends ; 

 flesh white, and remarkably firm, until it ripens ; then it is 

 juicy, rich, with a pleasant vinous flavor, and of best quality. 



It is a splendid keeper, and can be shipped to markets a 

 month or so distant, arriving in better order than when it started^ 

 ripening on the way. It does not rot until very ripe, and 

 remains sound at the core to the very last. The fruit is a rich 

 yellow, tinged with red, and very attractive. The tree is very 

 ornamental, an early bearer, commencing to fruit at two or three 

 years, and is enormously productive as it grows older. It is also 

 a very strong grower, young trees planted in the spring often 

 making a growth during the summer of four to five feet. It 

 grows well • in any ordinary soil, whether heavy clay or light 

 sand, but does its best on the latter, hence is peculiarly adapted 

 to Florida. The fruit commences to ripen in July and continues 

 through November. 



At the International Exhibition, in Philadelphia, in 1876, 

 the Centennial Commission gave to P. Kiefier a prize medal 

 and certificate of award, for " originating a hybrid pear of 

 remarkable excellence, between the pear of culture and a Chi- 

 nese sand pear, giving promise of a new race of pears of great 

 excellence. 



