North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

["Kieran &/or Donna" <holycow@frontiernet.net>]

I think most of the perry pears come from England, so not much blight res 
nor hardiness.   I don't think you'd have to worry about blight nearly as 
much as we do here.  I think any of the crunchy pears would be fine for 
perry, I note that Burford is mentioned as possibly good for perry.  I don't 
know about hardiness though.  I'm very interested in the SD release 'Okolo" 
which ought to be plenty hardy and should at least start out crunchy.  Get 
yourself some good hardy rootstock, get it in the ground and graft it to 
some hardy vars.  See corvallis's website, I think they have a hardy pear 
list.  Donna

http://www.ars.usda.gov/Main/docs.htm?docid=11372