Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-05-11
LeConte Pear History.

The following from Mr.. Charles Down
ing to the american AQFicuJturiSt will be
gratifying information to the numerous
growers of the now famous lie Conte pear
in this section: When Mr.. Thomas HOgg
was on a visit to me, four or five years
ago, inquired of him ii he knew anything
of the LeConte pear. He stated that he
recollected very distinctly the winter Maj
LeConte resided in New York. The Major
being very much interested in plants,
fruits, etc., often visited his fathers nur-
series and plant houses, examined the
new plants, and chatted with his father
as to their merits, etc. During this win
ter (1S46, or about that time J, he pur-
chased the Chinese Sand Pear, now known
as the LeConte pear, with other fruits and
plants, and sent them to his niece in Lib
erty, county, Ga.
Mr.. Hogg informed me that his father
obtained the Chinese Sand Pear, or Lee
COnte, of Mr.. Ferdinand Potter, nur-
seryman at Providence, R. l. l inquired
OF Mr.. Potter as to its origin. He re-
piled, that he procured the trees from the
Princes Nurseries, Flushing, L. l., about
forty five years ago, and was informed by
them that they were of new variety
lately imported from France.
CHAs. DOWNING,
To this the editor of the ADicuItarist
adds: This traces the LeConte pear di-
rectly to France, and makes it very proba-
BILE, as suggested in November last, that
it is a chance hybrid of the Chinese Sand
Pear, or a Seeding variety of that species.
Mr. Downing shows his old regard for &C.
curacy, by calling attention to the state
ment in the article referred to, that the
ffuit of the original Chinese Sand Pear is
''apple-shaped." In letter to us he says;
"All Ihave seen were Obovate-pyriform."
We made the statement on the authority
of London EArbOret ct Fruticet, Vol. H.,
p. 1901, and from our own knowledge of
the Japan pears, varieties of the Chinese,
and all apple-shaped fruits. We stated in
the November article, on the authority of
several nHrserymen, that the LeCOnte and
the related LETTERS Hybrid are free from
blight. Mr.. A. S. Fuller informs us that
his experience does not warrant the state
ment, and Mr.. Downing says that the
Chinese and Japanese varieties have
blighted at Newburgh, n. Y.
Having thus traced the LeCOnte through
Long Island to Rhode Island, and thence
across the Atlantic into France, the ques-
ton recurs if a Chinese pear, how and
when did it get TO France? If a Seeding
or hybrid of that pear when and where
did. it seed or hybridize? When and where
did it ever bear to be so recognized until
found in Liberty county, Georgia? Neither
Mr.. Downing nor the american AqricUi-
tariSt bad any experience of the fruit Of
the LeCOnte pear until few years ago
they were shipped from Georgia to the
Northern markets, and the former gentle
mar thought the new pear important
enough to war; ant a visit by him to the
region Of their growth in order to inspect
the trees. 1t was this visit to Thomas
Vile about five years ago, we supposed
that convinced him of the Chinese origin
of the pear. The tree resembled in char
acteristics the Chinese sand, which name
it first bore, but the fruit was 80 different
as to clearly show a new pear, not sap
pie-shaped.n And since thispear, bywhat-
ever name, was not known or cultivated
in the North prior TO it's naming in the
South, it could not have blghted at New
burg. Y. Y, or elsewhere in that region.
The testimony of Mr.. Fuller ana Mr..
Downing is against the Chinese and Japa-
nese pears; but the LIE Conte being new
variety, although closely related, may
still be exempt, as it has shown itself to be
in ths section after an experience of
nearly 80 years.