14 
THE HOME NURSERY, LA FAYETTE, ILLINOIS 
Pears «-* 
As a dessert fruit the pear is of great value. When 
properly ripened there is none of the tree fruits more 
luscious. It is an old saying that “He who plants 
pears plants for his heirs.” The pear is a very much 
longer lived tree than the apple, and, as a rule, comes 
into bearing much later. However, we now have 
varieties that come into bearing soon after planting. 
The dwarf trees often bear in the nursery row. and 
commence bearing very soon after planting, and are 
annual bearers. 
The list of the desirable varieties that succeed in this 
section of the corn belt is rather limited, as compared 
with other parts of the United States. There are two 
distinct methods of growing the pear: Standards, or 
those grown upon pear roots: and Dwarf, those grown 
on Quince. The dwarfs never make very large trees. 
The dwarfing merely checks the growth of the tree but 
does not affect the fruit, and produces immediate and 
yearly bearing. 
Our List includes both Standard and Dwarfs that 
are best suited to this section of the corn belt, and 
where planted in variety will give fruit from July to 
December. It is very important in handling pears to 
gather the fruit from a week to ten days before fully 
ripe and finish the ripening in a dark cellar, which 
greatly improves the flavor. 
Standard Trees, 6 to 7 ft., each 75c; 
Per 10, $6.00 
BARTLETT—The leading commercial variety; one of 
the most popular for dessert and canning. Large, 
clear yellow, with blush on sunny side. Flesh is 
Peaches •*« 
Peaches are the earliest to come into bearing after 
planting of any of the tree fruits. Trees have been 
known to bear fruit within eighteen months from the 
time the seed sprouted, and it is not uncommon for them 
to bear in three years from the seed. Trees planted out 
usually come into bearing the second year and come 
into full bearing from three to four years. 
It is the belief among a good many growers that a 
seedling tree is hardier or less liable to winter injury 
than one propagated by budding or grafting. They are 
greatly mistaken in this, as the mode in which a tree 
is propagated has nothing to do with its hardiness, and 
as the peach, like other fruit trees, does not come true 
from seed, while a known hardy peach may be propa¬ 
gated and still retain its strength and hardiness. 
In propagating the Peach, like other fruit trees, the 
bud is transplanted from one tree to another and the 
nature of the bud is not changed in the least, nor its 
hardiness affected. 
Therefore, it is best to plant known varieties of 
peaches rather than trust to seedlings that may be 
tender as well as worthless in fruit, no matter how 
hardy or fine the fruit was that the seed came from. 
Tlie Pcacli never makes a very large tree in this 
latitude and requires very little room, and may be 
planted as close as from 7 to S feet apart. It is a good 
tree to plant in a young orchard for fillers or nurse 
trees, to be taken out in a few years. 
The following varieties are all good and hardy kinds 
and well adapted to growing in this latitude. All are 
white, fine-grained, juicy and sweet. Tree is vigorous, 
very productive, hardy, bears young. 
KIEFFER—A large, handsome pear and an excellent 
keeper. The trees are very hardy and begin to bear 
when quite young. The fruit is a rich yellow with a 
reddish cheek. If picked about October 1st. when it 
takes on a slight yellow tint, and put in boxes in a 
dark place to ripen, they are fine eating out of hand 
and superior to most pears for canning. Its excellent 
flavor and handsome appearance make it a desirable 
market variety. 
Kieffer Extra Heavy Trees; Price, each $1.50 
Dwarf Pear Trees... 
Dwarf Pears are valuable, as they come into bearing 
immediately and are well adapted to small gardens. It 
is propagated on Quince roots, which makes the tree 
a slow, dwarfish grower, and less subject to blight than 
the standard. The dwarfing does not affect the fruit in 
any way. In orchard planting they may be set much 
closer than the standard trees. 
Price, 3 yr. old, each 75c 
Per 10, $6.00 
DUCHESS—Very large, greenish-yellow, sometimes rus- 
seted. The flesh is white, juicy, buttery, melting and 
sweet. Ripens from October to November. 
SECKEL—One of the best and highest flavored pears 
known. Rather small, with a rich, yellowish-brown 
skin and white, melting flesh. Season, August and 
September. Tree very productive. 
Freestones, except as noted, and of the finest quality. 
The list is arranged in their order of ripening. 
Price each, 5 to 6 ft., 40c; 
Per 10, $3.50 
BELLE OF GEORGIA—Fruit very large and attractive 
in color and shape, with a beautiful red cheek; flesh 
white, firm and delicious. Ripens first half of 
August. Trees very hardy and prolific. One of the 
most attractive early peaches. 
CHAMPION—Fruit very large and creamy white, with 
red cheek ; ripens early in August. Sweet, juicy, very 
high flavor. Its extreme hardiness and fine flavor 
make it one of the favorites. 
EARLY CRAWFORD—A magnificent large yellow peach 
of splendid quality; tree vigorous and hardy. Its 
fine size, beauty and productiveness make it one of 
the most popular sorts. Ripens about the first of 
September. 
ELBERTA—Large to very large; yellow, with beautiful 
blush; firm, a little coarse, but tender and good. 
While quality is not the highest, it has made more 
money for the orchardist than any other peach. In 
all probability no peach has met with equal success 
in so wide a range of territory as this variety. Sea¬ 
son medium early, following closely the early Craw¬ 
ford. Hardier in bud than most kinds, therefore a 
more uniform cropper. 
Cherries ■* ■» 
Large Montmorency 
The Cherry begins to bear when only a few feet in height, and is an annual 
bearer. The fruit is fine and delicious, and one of the earliest of the tree fruits. 
And when it comes to cherry pie, “Oh. boy,” it can't be beat. 
No land owner need to be without this early and wholesome fruit. The trees are 
absolutely hardy and unusually free from insect pests. There is no fruit that will 
give as quick and as large returns as the Cherry. 
The Oxheart, or Sweet Cherry, does not succeed in this section. We have frequent 
calls for this valuable kind, and regret very much that they cannot be grown here. 
Have tested a number of kinds and offer only the best. Our trees are budded 
upon the Mahaleb stock, which dwarfs them to some extent, so that the trees do not 
grow so tall or rapid and do not sprout from the root. 
Price, 5 to 6 ft. trees, each 65c; Per 10, $6.00 
EARLY RICHMOND—This is perhaps the most popular and valuable Cherry yet 
produced. It is very prolific and bears bright red, juicy fruit, rather acid' in 
flavor and unexcelled for cooking. Tree very hardy. Ripens about 10th of June. 
LARGE MONTMORENCY—A large and bright red, very attractive Cherry. A very 
pleasant acid flavor. Ripens about 10 days after the Richmond. The fruit is much 
sought after on account of its large size and fine flavor. 
