North American Fruit Explorers mailing list at ibiblio

["Jim Fruth" <jimfruth@charter.net>]

   Despite the belief that pear trees are self sterile, I have observed 
evidence that they become self fertile after experiencing a period of 
producing no fruit/seed.  As I mentioned in an earlier email (several years 
ago), I know a fellow who had a single pear producing tree with no neighbors 
for miles around - and, consequently, no pear trees.
   I had a single pear tree for twenty years that began blooming after 
twelve years but produced no fruit.  I haven't been able to find another 
pear tree for many miles around.  When my tree became twenty years old it 
produced a few fruits.  The following year it produced nearly 2,000 fruits. 
Some might argue that there must have been a nearby pear tree that began 
blooming at the same time.  That might be a plausible argument if a small 
quantity of fruits were produced, but 2,000 fruits?  Yes it is hypothesis 
but the evidence suggests that pears can become self fertile after producing 
no fruits/seeds for some years.