North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

[Douglas Woodard <dwoodard@becon.org>]

Donna, I srongly suggest that you test all the Harrow pears that you can 
get. They were bred for fireblight resistance and commercial quality.
If HW 605 exists in any U.S. collection you might try to get it. It was 
not named and distribution ceased because a high percentage of the crop 
dropped prematurely, but it was reported to be an really excellent 
winter keeper as well as of high quality. In a homestead situation 
possibly the drops could be used by livestock.

Doug Woodard
St. Catharines, Ontario, Canada


Donna &/or Kieran wrote:
>  I've decided that since pears like our soil and apples don't, then I'll 
> just have to find pears that come in early and late and with as much 
> variation as possible.  I have some Europeans and some Asians, some have 
> cropped.  I have plenty of rootstocks, it seems a shame to order trees 
> but I might wind up doing it.   Variety and nursery 
> recommendations would be appreciated.  I know Seckel is supposed to be 
> high quality, but I have never really liked the astingency of the skin 
> on those few I've eaten.  On the other hand, I guess that would be a 
> plus for making wine.  I have seen some incomplete lists of bloom 
> times.  Late bloomers would be a good idea.  I have these already:
>  
> Twentieth Century     collected locally,  I really like this one
> Tenn                           ditto   very nice pear, though it doesn't 
> seem to keep long.  Does anyone know anything about it???
> Shinko                       
> Korean Giant
> Ayers                          bought tree this year
> Warren                       bought tree 12 years ago and it finally 
> bloomed just in time for the Big Easter Freeze
> probably Kieffer           local source
> Duchess                     one bud took this year
> Duchess Bronzee       ditto
> Magness                      one small branch
>  
>  
> I'd like:
>  
> Mericourt - 1938 Tennessee introduction that sounds really good
> Winter Nelis
> Moonglow?   Is it really good? 
>  
> Thanks!    Donna