QLLN SAINT MARY NURS 1 LRI 1 LS a Tears : Tersimmons 
Pears 
I he four varieties of Pears best adapted for the Lower South are Le Conte, Kicffer, 
Smith and Garber. Before these varieties were disseminated, but few Pears were grown in 
the Gulf region, and these with indifferent success. Since the introduction of the above- 
named varieties, Pear culture has become an extensive industry in this region. These 
varieties are also well adapted farther north. All the Pear trees we offer are grown 
upon Le Conte and Japan Pear stocks, which are, by all odds, the best stocks for south¬ 
ern planting. 
GARBER. Fruit resembles the Kieffer in size, 
appearance and quality, but the tree is of more 
open growth. Comes in ahead of the Kieffer. 
A seedling of the Chinese Sand Pear. 
KIEFFER. Fruit large to very large; color 
yellow, with bright vermilion cheek, very hand¬ 
some; flesh very juicy, brittle, a little coarse, but 
of good quality. September and October. The 
trees should not be allowed to overbear while 
young, which they are inclined to do; extremely 
prolific, and very valuable. Supposed cross be¬ 
tween the Chinese Sand and the Bartlett. 
LE CONTE. Large to very large, pyriform in 
shape; skin smooth, pale yellow; when properly 
handled the quality is good. Early in July. The 
tree is a remarkably vigorous grower, with luxu¬ 
riant foliage; extremely prolific and an annual 
bearer. It seems to adapt itself more readily than 
any other variety to radically different conditions 
of soil and climate. In sections of the South where 
few other Pears are satisfactory, the Le Conte 
seems to have found its home. Supposed cross 
between the Chinese Sand and some cultivated 
variety. 
MAGNOLIA. Described by its introducers as 
large to very large, slightly pyriform, basin narrow 
and shallow. Color when ripe solid glossy reddish 
brown. Flavor sprightly and good a commingling 
of sweet and sour, very agreeable and refreshing. 
Matures later than Kieffer and is a better keeper. 
SMITH ( Smith's Hybrid ). Uniformly large 
and perfect, very smooth and handsome; similar in 
form and color to the Le Conte; melting and juicy, 
with smooth, creamy texture; quality very good 
when properly ripened. Ripens with or just ahead 
of the Le Conte. An early, annual and prolific 
bearer, and exceedingly profitable. Tree equals 
the Le Conte in luxuriant growth. 
Japan Persimmons 
T HE Japan Persimmon, when grafted on our native Persimmon, seems perfectly at home 
throughout the cotton belt, and especially adapted to the Gulf coast region. The 
tree is vigorous, prolific, and has few enemies. By a judicious selection of varieties 
one can have ripe fruit from August till December. Recent reports indicate that this fruit is 
gaining in favor in the northern markets, and some of the most successful southern fruit¬ 
growers are now planting it quite extensively. 
Some of the varieties have dark flesh, others light flesh, still others a mixture of the two. 
The light and the dark flesh differ radically in texture and consistency, as well as appearance, and 
when found in the same fruit are never blended, but always distinct. The dark flesh is never 
astringent; the light flesh is astringent until it softens. The dark-fleshed fruit is crisp and 
meaty, like an apple, and is edible before it matures. Some of the entirely dark-fleshed kinds 
improve as they soften. The light-fleshed kinds, and those with mixed light and dark flesh, are 
very delicious when they reach the custard-like consistency of full ripeness. In some the 
astringency disappears as the fruit begins to soften ; in others it persists until the fruit is fully 
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