Ashland tidings. [volume] (Ashland, Or.) 1876-1919, 1917-06-21
Valley Fruit Expert
Sent TO Far East

Prof. F. C. Reimer of the Southern
Oregon Experiment Station will sail
for Japan and China next month, in
connection with the great work this
experiment station is doing with
pears. He will go as representa-
tive Of the United States Department
of Agriculture and the state expert.
ment station Of Oregon. These two
institutions have made arrangements
whereby Professor Reimer will repre-
sent both institutions, the Depart
ment of Agriculture and the state
each bearing half of the expenses of
the trip.
The collection of varieties and spe-
cies Of pears which Professor Reimer
has gathered together at the Southern
Oregon Experiment Station is regard
ed by experts as the most complete
in the world He has found in this
collection several Chinese species
which have proved highly resistant
to pear blight, and one species which
has proved absolutely immune to this
disease. This is the only species of
pear that has ever been found any
where in the world that has proved
immune to this disease. This pear is
also the hardest in the world, en-
during the cold winters of parts of
Siberia where the mercury congeals
in the thermometer every winter.
Blight Resistance Stock.
Another species of very great i'm
portance occurs in Central China.
This species is very vigorous grower
and thrives under the most adverse
conditions imaginable. 1t is found
in swamps with its roots immersed in
water, along rock mountain streams.
on sterile. dry mountain sides where
it endures the greatest extremes Of
draught. At the Southern Oregon
Experiment Station this species has
proved markedly resistant to pear
blight and immune to the pear woolly
aphis,
At the present time these pears are
not in the nursery trade, and they
can not be purchased anywhere.
China has no nurserymen and no
dealers from whom this material can
be purchased. These types ocur in
the remote mountains and wilds of
China and it is hazardous task to
collect them. There are no railroads
in these sections of China, and the
trip means long and difficult trips on
foot and often far removed from hui
man habitation.
Sturdy Wild Species.
Professor Reimer will collect large
quantities of these seeds for use in
this country. He will also make
thorough systeamtic study of the
many wild species of pears of Japan
and China. At present these species
are badly involved systematically and
some of them have never been named
by botanists. It has been stated by
some explorers that one of the most
valuable of these Chinese species also
occurs in the mountains of Japan.
Professor Reimer will determine this
fact. If this should prove to be the
case it will be matter Of great inn
portance, as arrangements can then
be made with some of the large Jap
anese nurserymen to collect and ship
to this country large quantities of
seeds and trees of this important
type.
Experts from the Department Of
Agriculture who have examined Pro-
fessor Reimer's work on pears are
very enthusiastic over 1t, and the de-
partment is pleased to be able to CO.
operate in this work in China and
Japan.
Professor Reimer will be away for
about five months. During this time
the work of the experiment station
will be in charge of A. G. Mccormick,
who has been assistant at the expert
ment station during the past three
years.