Pears. 
17 
Best Kinds for Profit. Hundreds of inquiries reach us annually as to what other varieties succeed here 
as well as the oriental kinds, and which of the oriental kinds are the best. Our answer has been, “ for profit 
stick to the orientals, and, of these, give preference to the Le Conte and Kieffer.” Another season confirms 
this opinion. 
The Le Conte is steadily growing in favor in market as an early Pear. Most Pears should be gathered 
before they mature, and ripened up off the tree. It is more essential than with any other variety that the 
Le Conte be gathered at the right stage and ripened in the right way ; when this is done it is a really good 
table Pear. But if allowed to remain too long upon the tree, or, after being gathered at the right time, if it 
is not ripened under proper conditions, it is inferior. The first Le Contes sent to market were not properly 
handled in this respect, and their poor quality originated a very general prejudice against this fruit—a preju¬ 
dice which is fast disappearing in the face of the proper conditioned and really good fruit now being sent 
forward by the more experienced growers. 
Col. S. S. Harvey has one of the oldest'and largest Le Conte orchards in West Florida. At the annual, 
session of the State Horticultural Society, in April, 1894, he stated that he had marketed his last ciop in 
Chicago. Up to that time the Le Conte was not much known in Western markets, the greater portion of 
the fruit having gone East. His fruit was sent to a prominent commission merchant, who said in advance 
that he did not think much of the Le Conte. After handling several car loads he wrote that he had revised 
his opinion, as the first car load had sold better than any other Pears on the market, and the Le Contes had 
brought more than the Bartletts at almost every sale. Col. Harvey netted $1.02 per bushel for the crop. 
The last crop of Le Contes from our own orchards, at Glen St. Mary, was sold in the Eastern markets, and 
netted about a dollar a bushel on the trees. These are not fancy prices for a scarce article, but a gocd, fair 
value for a staple product, and there is no reason to fear it will not be maintained. At these figures, consid¬ 
ering the low cost of production and marketing, for profit the Le Conte has few equals among fruits. 
Marketing the Fruit. The fruit should be picked as soon as grown, and before it colors. If picked 
while still green, and even before it has attained its full size, and piled in bulk in a dark room, it will ripen 
up full of juice and well flavored ; treated in this way , it remains plump and firm, and is not liable to shrivel, 
as would be the case if exposed to the light and air. If the fruit is to be shipped, pack and forward as soon 
as picked, and it will ripen up in transit. If the fruit is allowed to remain on the tree until it begins to change 
color, as was the practice with the first crops that were sent to market, it is dry and tasteless. (See "Care 
and Management of Fruit Trees, ” on another page, for methods of pruning and cultivating the Le Conte 
and other Pears. ) 
For profit, the Kieffer is scarcely second to the Le Conte. While it ripens in the fall, when fiuit is 
plentiful, its size, beauty and good quality command for it, everywhere and at all times, a gocd price. The 
tree resembles the Le Conte, is quite as vigorous, and very productive. It commences bearing earlier than 
the latter, and can be planted closer. 
As with the Le Conte, the Kieffer must be gathered at a certain stage and ripened in a certain way, to 
obtain the best results. With the Kieffer, which attains very large size, the temptation is to gather it too 
soon. This disposition to pick the fruit when still immature has led some into the erroneous impression 
that at its best it was hard and undesirable. When allowed 
to hang upon the tree until the fruit begins to color, and then 
carefully ripened in a cool, dark room, there are few Pears 
that are more attractive, and in point of quality, it combines 
extreme juiciness with a sprightly subacid flavor and the 
peculiar aroma of the Bartlett ; it is then an excellent 
dessert fruit. 
A good deal of the fruit is marketed in an immature 
condition ; even this brings a fair price (about an average of 
$1 per bushel), and is a passable cooking fruit. Properly 
house-ripened, it is a dessert fruit of excellent quality, and 
brings a good price, sellingin quantity as high as#3per bushel, 
and readily commanding from 75 cents to $1 per dozen at 
retail. 
The Smith is another oriental Pear which is attracting 
considerable attention, and promises to become a favorite. 
It has been brought into notice more recentlv than the 
Le Conte and Kieffer. The tree and fruit very closely resem¬ 
ble the Le Conte. It might properly be styled an improved 
Le Conte. It is certainly as good an all-round fruit as the 
latter, and is possibly a little earlier and more uniform in 
the size and color of its fruit. We have no hesitancy, after 
fruiting it for several years, in recommending the Smith. 
Downing says the Jefferson originated in Mississippi; we 
have classed it with the orientals, as it has their vigor, and 
in many of its characteristics resembles this group. It is of 
inferior quality, but ishandsome and very early ; it is ripe Kiefft’r Pear. (Seepage 19. 
