The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-07-25
The Kleffsr Pear and It's orizinat Dr..

The Kieffsr Pear and It's ORR 7iuator.
There is much difference of opinion in
this state concerning the Kleffer pear, aud
really much difference in quality in the
variety as grown in different parts Of the
state; still the following article, which
Thomas Meehan of Philadelphia writes for
the London Gardeners Chronicle, will be
read with much interest:
Peter Kieffer was the originator of the
Kiefer pear. All over the world of gar
dening. probably, the Kieffer pear is kno Wn
Certainly in the United States hundreds Of
thousands have been planted, and hundreds
of thousands OF dollars have been realized
from its sale. The owner OF the tree, a
near neighbOr OF mine. received probably
hut few hundred, it that much. 1t seems
that the great circle that has derived so
much pleasure and profit from his work
should, at least know something Of the
in the suburbs of Philadelphia. He was
Frenchman, born in Alsace, June %, 1912.
He arrived in New York December, 1884
Failing in employment there, he walked
through snow two feet deep to Philadel-
phia, 100 miles, and obtained situation as
gardener TO the famous agriculturfst James
Gowen of Mount Airy, near here, where he
married and finally bought a few acres and
started a little marked garden and small
nursery. All around Philadelphia are
numerous rare trees and plants, the history
of which no knows, and the mystery
is usually finally settled by the re-
mark, probably something introduced by
Peter Kietfer." The Sand pear of Japan,
so far as rela.es to the older trees growing
in this section of America, if not in other
parts, he certainly introduced. Numerous
trees were fruiting here between twenty
and forty years ago-the fruit regarded as
of no or little culinary value, but much es-
IL g. Il nlS ST.
Kiefer raised seedlings from his tree, which
was sold yearling from his little nursery.
His tree grew close to Bartlett (your
Williams Bon Chrietien), and the branches
of the two i1terlaced. Some slight
difference in one Seeding was noted and it
was preserved from sale. This proved what
is, from the above facts, reasonably believed
to be true hybrid, the Kieffer pear The
fine red cheek. and some general appear
ance to the Flemish Beauty, has caused the
statement to appear In our genealogical
works that it is a hybrid with the Flemish
Beauty. Mr.. Kieffer grated aud sold few
here and there for IS each; but though he
distributed among his few horticult-
ural friends annually fruit that would
make the most cold-souled epicure
leap with joy, no effort was
properly on the market. At length the
great cen tannial exhibition came. Mr. Kief-
in size, Oeauty. havor-everthing. indeed,
for which any pear could possibly be es-
teemed. The writer, who was secretary to
the jury, can truly say that he remembers
eating no pear like them. They had a
medal and a strong report in their favor.
and William Parry, a well-known in
PRODUCER of new fruits, made an ar
rangemeEt with MIR. Kieffer for
gratis. In this way the variety
got regularly into commerce. Il may
be said that gardening is no longer an art
here as it was in Mr.. Kieffer's day. A fruit
has TO be hardy" and ''first-class, just as
nature gives it to you. You plant the tree,
but, to a very great extent. it must forever
after be able to take care of itself. Mr..
Kietfer knew how to gather and how
to cure his pears; year by year. since 1858,
when the Kieffer pear first fruited, you
could 20 to his house, and out of his cellar
he would bring you fruits the like Of which
you might not find elsewhere. Few,
If any. can get Kieffer pears as Kieffer had
them, aud the art has died with him. In
our fruit lists 1t is simply classsd as ''valu~
able for market purposes" and the fruit
chapters tell US IL is "a very variable kind
Philadelphia Is being fast covered with
buildings over les vast area of 40 square
miles. The original Kieffer pear tree Is
still standing Ia Mr.. Rieffer's grounds, but
1t will probably not be many years before
the march Of Improvement win bid it be-
gone