778 
Till- RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
October 28 , 
NOTES FROM THE RURAL GROUNDS 
The Le Conte Pear. —The last edition 
of Thomas’ American Fruit Culturist, is- 
1908, thus describes the 
“Large, yellow, moder- 
exceedingly productive, 
sued as late as 
Le Conte pear: 
ate in quality; 
vigorous and profitable at the South ; of 
no value North.” Exceptii\g the last 
phrase we must consider this a very fair 
characterization of the variety. Far from 
being valueless in New Jersey, it is re¬ 
garded in the vicinity of the Rural 
Grounds, where trainloads of Kieffers are 
grown, as a very desirable pear for home 
use and nearby markets, if intelligently 
handled. As a variety it seems to have 
improved of late; the troublesome core¬ 
rot or ripe decay of the centers of the 
fruits, so prevalent when first planted in 
this locality as to prejudice growers, has 
so diminished that it has ceased to be a 
defect, especially on established trees. It 
is common opinion that not only is the 
variety, as a whole, improving, but that 
well established trees gain with age. both 
in producing capacity .and in quality of 
fruits, quite contrary to Kieffer, which 
often seems to do best in its early years. 
Not a New Variety. —Le Conte is one 
of the earliest of several hybrid or mon¬ 
grel pears, originating as chance seed¬ 
lings where the Oriental or Chinese Sand 
pear, Pyrus Sinensis, and varieties of the 
ordinary or European pear. P. com¬ 
munis. were grown together, Kieffer. 
Garber and Smith being later examples 
of the race. Le Conte was widely plant¬ 
ed throughout the South previous to 1870, 
and marked the beginning of commercial 
pear culture in vast regions where few 
ordinary varieties have ever succeeded. 
It is so vigorous and healthy that for a 
long time it was assumed to be blight- 
proof. About 25 years ago, however, 
blight became epidemic in many Le Conte 
orchards, and wrought so much injury 
that disappointed growers turned their at¬ 
tention to the new and more showy Kief¬ 
fer, whose star has remained so long in 
the ascendant. Kieffer, is without doubt, 
owing to its fine appearance and good 
shipping qualities, a most useful market 
pear, but the older orchards now rarely 
bear the large, handsome fruit that 
made the early reputation of the variety, 
but annually glut the markets with un¬ 
told tons of cloudy and undersized pears, 
never ripening into normal quality; that 
are slow of disposal, even to canners, ex¬ 
cept in years of apple scarcity. Even 
young trees under good treatment have 
not of late borne the well-colored fruits 
expected from them. This latter may be 
only a passing feature due to adverse cli¬ 
matic conditions, but the fact remains 
that Le Conte has never been so well ap¬ 
preciated as during the past two seasons. 
As a Market Pear.— Southern Lc 
Contes first appear in the New York 
markets in early July, many weeks before 
the advent of California Bartletts, which 
latter may he regarded as the choicest 
fruit of the Pacific coast, from the east¬ 
ern consumer’s standpoint. While not of 
high quality these early Le Contes arc 
pleasant and refreshing. They are appre¬ 
ciated as the only available pears of the 
season, and are freely used, especially 
for stewing. They disappear from the 
fruit stands as soon as Bartlett. Clapp 
and other Summer pears come in. The 
first nearby Le Contes are marketed in 
late August, and a choicer grade again 
about the middle of September. When 
properly ripened these latter are very 
good indeed. I he prices realized do not 
often exceed $8 the barrel, but in rela¬ 
tion to the cost of production Le Conte 
and Kieffer prices are likely to afford 
more margin of profit than most standard 
varieties of pears. 
As a Home Fruit.— There is little use 
in comparing the quality of the Sand pear 
hybrids with such marvels of excellence 
as Anjou, Bose. Seckel, and a host of 
lesser known, but highly appreciated Eu¬ 
ropean kinds. The Oriental pears are 
not m the same class, being essentially 
cooking fruits. Lnless the flavors are 
brought out by careful ripening, after be¬ 
ing developed by good culture and pre¬ 
served by picking at just the needed stage 
of maturity, they range from ordinary to 
unpalatable. Properly managed, how¬ 
ever, these pears are often exceedingly 
good in the raw stage and when stewed, 
preserved or canned many rank with the 
very best. When cooked, ripe Le Contes 
develop to a surprising degree the true 
Bartlett flavor. The flesh is firm, yet ten¬ 
der and usually free from hard or woody 
grains. The core is small and practi¬ 
cally seedless, as usually grown. If pol- 
lenized by Kieffer larger fruits contain¬ 
ing more seeds seem to be the rule. A 
fair-sized Le Conte, full view and section, 
is shown in Figs. 380 and 881. page 774. 
This fruit was seedless, as were nearly 
all from the same tree. The variety is 
productive to a fault, and is more in¬ 
clined to over-bear year after year than 
Kieffer. Advice as to thinning, when 
small, such a low-priced fruit is not likely 
to be regarded, but the trees may be kept 
from breaking and most excellent early 
fruits secured by picking the largest pears 
about August 20. i hey are green, hard 
and undersized at this time, appearing 
worthless to the inexperienced, but if 
carefully handled and placed in covered 
barrels or boxes in a sheltered place 
quickly mellow, developing unlooked-for 
color, aroma and flavor. They may be 
readily marketed or used in many satis¬ 
factory ways. Great relief is given to 
the burdened trees by this early picking. 
I he hulk of the fruits removed will 
probably be fully made up by mid-Sep¬ 
tember, which is usually a good time for 
the final picking. 'Fhe later pears should 
be ripened in bulk similar to the early 
ones and at once disposed of when in 
good condition. Ripe Le Contes are per¬ 
ishable property. This variety cannot be 
handled in as leisurely manner nor be as 
successfully stored as Kieffer. Lack of 
appreciation of the best methods of car¬ 
ing for the crop has hindered the north¬ 
ern progress of this distinct pear. 
Planting Le Contes. —Lc Conte is 
now offered by comparatively few nur¬ 
serymen. When listed it can be had for 
35 cents, the usual price for good pear 
trees. It makes a more spreading tree 
with larger, lighter green foliage than 
Kieffer but with the exception of requir¬ 
ing more space, needs about the same 
treatment. It appears better adapted to 
loamy soils and should be given a good 
rich place. Start the head low. prune 
sharply until the framework of the fu¬ 
ture tree is formed, and then more spar¬ 
ingly—the crop will check tendency to 
undue growth. Do not be afraid to till 
and fertilize freely. Le Conte is extra¬ 
ordinarily resistant to disease, and almost 
immune to San Jose scale and other 
pests. Plant other pears, especially Kief¬ 
fers. near—though fertile to its own 
pollen, which is very effective on 
Kieffer. it sets more freely if there is ac¬ 
cess to foreign pollen. Plant as many 
bigh-quality standard varieties as you 
like; while waiting for them to bear you 
can count on several good crops of Le 
Contes. 
Breeding Sand Pear Hybrids. —There 
have been few late additions to the short 
list of Sand pear derivatives. Kieffer has 
so filled the growers’ eye that new kinds 
have little chance. Garber is much plant¬ 
ed throughout the South, and is freely 
offered in the North. It is a month earlier 
than Kieffer. roundish, bright yellow in 
color, and said to be of better quality. 
Smitu is too late for the North, and is 
sparingly planted South. We have never 
seen a ripe fruit of Smith, but under¬ 
stand that it is quite near Kieffer. The 
Washington Department of Agriculture 
is growing a great lot of hybrids be¬ 
tween Kieffer and the best commercial 
pears. A\ e saw long rows of seedlings on 
the Department grounds in 1901. and 
trust the public will hear of them as they 
come into bearing. We have made on 
the Rural Grounds many well-considered 
crosses between Le Conte, Kieffer and 
Golden Russet, and our best late Euro¬ 
peans. such as Angouleme, Bose, Shel¬ 
don. Barry and others. Many seedlings 
have been grown, some of much vigor and 
promise, but none is yet old enough to 
fruit. 
Some Jersey Hybrids. —Judge Wood- 
bridge Strong, New Brunswick, N. J„ 
has devoted many years to growing seed¬ 
lings of Le Conte and Kieffer, and has 
fruited several most promising varieties. 
A hybrid of Kieffer and Winter Nelis 
bears good-sized russet pears of rich, 
high quality, ripening in October. Le 
Conte x Kieffer is a vigorous productive 
tree of the Sand pear type, bearing large 
yellow pears of excellent flavor, though 
not as good as the Nelis cross. Others 
are said to he equally promising, but we 
have not tested the fruits. When we 
consider the vigor, early bearing and re¬ 
sistance to disease and insect pest quali¬ 
ties of the Sand pear crosses it is fair to 
expect that highly valuable varieties will 
from time to time occur among their di¬ 
lute hybrids. w. v. F. 
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-t 
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ISO to 136 Washington Boulevard. 
Continuing, this Bright 
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E 86 Arch Street, Philadelphia 
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“NUBLACK” 
BLACK POWDER SHELLS 
The “Nublack” is a grand good shell; 
good in construction, good because it is 
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reloading. A trial will prove its excellence. 
ALL DEALERS SELL THEM 
Farmers Say 
Is the Best Remedy on Earth. 
Kills a Spavin Curb or Splint. 
Very Penetrating. Kills Pain. 
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