The Florida agriculturist. [volume] (DeLand, Fla.) 1878-1911, 1878-10-02
The Sand Pear.

We extract the following ln1or-
nation in relation to this pear, from
the Transactions of the Georgia
State Agricultural Society. At It's
Spring meeting in 1877, Mr.. Fleming
said : First it is the only pear, l be-
lieve, that can be propagated from
the cutting. A friend has told me-
since my arrival in this place, that ne
has occasionally got another pear to
grow from the cutting, but very sell
dom. All can say is, that l have
never been able to get any other pear
to grow, except it had roots, With
the Chinese Sand Pear, you can cut a
switch, ride your horse with it hun,
dred miles, then plant it, and it will
grow. A gentleman here present TO-
night, to whom l sent hundred cut
tings, said to me, 81 wanted to test
this; so took cuttings from other
pear trees of different varieties, and l
planted them side by side with yours
in different rows syours having been
cut two days, mine were just cut.
All of yours are now putting on green
leaves, and every one Of the other va
rieties is stone dead" Therefore l
am constrained to believe that it is
the only pear which can be propaga-
ted from the cutting. l have eight
trees, which have all come entirely
from cuttings.
Secondly. 1t will bear in five
years, which is comparatively short
time to wait for tree to produce
fruit from cutting.
Thirdly. 1t is almost entirely ex-
empt from disease Our oldest tree
is now in it's eighth year, perfectly
vigorous, and free from any appear
ance of disease. 1t is rapid grower,
attaining to great height-probably
! TOO high but l learn there is a way
to check it. One of my trees is TWEEN
ty odd feet high, and continues to
grow. A few days ago, observing the
interest that this pear was exciting, l
determined to visit the old parent
tree in Liberty county, now ip its
twenty-sixth year, that l might see
it's condition for myself, and report to
this convention concerning it. That
tree is apparently as healthy as the
tree just alluded TO, in my garden, in
it's eighth year. Judge Harden, in
whose possession the tree now is as
sures me that he knows from his own
observation, and from what his moth
er has told him, that it has never
been troubled by disease of any kind
and that it has had no extra care.
Fourthly. 1t is a tree Of extreme
symmetry and beauty of form, having
a beautiful cone shape.
Filthy. Its unexampled prolifica-
cy. This original tree, in Liberty
county, is surrounded by negro quar-
tiers, with no white person near.
Judge Harden assures me that the
colored people had taken some of the
fruit-he does not know how much
but he gathered seventeen bushels,
and the supposition is, that it bore
more. have his certificate of the
fact. My son-in-law, living in the
country below Liberty, has tree
propagated from twig Of the parent
tree. He assured me that the first
year of its bearing it produced six
bushels; the second year, more than
eighteen bushels, and the fourth year
twenty-five bushels. But when those
twenty-five bushels were on it, | new
err saw such sight in my life, the tall
branches were loaded with the fruit {;
and they bent over, forming perfect
bow.
Sixthly. This pear will perfect one
crop, and very nearly second, in one
season. The second crop is very
good for culinary purposes. Ii the
frost stayed off little longer, we
would get second crop as fully ma
tured as the first ;-but in consequence
of frost, the second crop has general
ly to be picked before it is ripe.
Seventhly. It's extraordinary Ion
gevity is attested by the present Hour
ishing condition of the original tree
in Liberty county, now in its twenty
sixth year. The Chinese Sand Peal
is peculiarly adapted to the climate
and soil OF southern and southwestern
Georgia. Rev. DR.. Wharton writes
me that in his opinion the Chimes
Sand Pear is equal, if not superior, u
the celebrated California Fear, an'
predicts that it will very. shortly rlva
the orange culture of Florida. J.uIdg
Harden writes me as follows: Sine,