Hi folks. I'm new to the forum. We have been enjoying Countryside for about a year. Although we live in a suburb of W NY. We have a country place in the southern tier of WNY. We have a small orchard that has been sorely neglected for many years. We really have our work cut out for us. There are only a handful of old apple trees left. I'm not sure if we can save them. We plan to start to replace them next spring. We plan to plant a couple of pear trees also. When I was a boy we had some pears that were picked late in the season and were rock hard. They were stored in the cellar until Christmas time and then were brought out. They were sugar sweet. They were a small pear, half the size of a regular pear. Anyone out there have any idea what type of pear they were. I know there are a lot of knowlegeable people out there that contribute to the forum and I would appreciate your help on this. I really enjoy the forum. Thanks. Jerry.

-- Gerald S. Rozanski (Grozanski56@cs.com), November 14, 2000

Answers

Seckel Pear also called sugar pear.Hubbie's favorite.Resistance to fireblight as well. We have one and I think I got it from either Bear Creek nuseryor Raintree.So,They are still available.

Graft the apples onto new root stock,so you can save the varities.They are probably old ones and may be very desirable.If you don't know how to graft,get your extension agent to explain it to you.It's relatively easy and you can get alot of apple trees for a great price.Bear Creek and Raintree Nusery have root stock available as well

Hate to see good old varities lost.

-- sharon wt (wildflower@ekyol.com), November 15, 2000.

Yes, I think that I will look into grafting after some studying up on the procedure. The neighbor down in the country knows that the trees are over 60 to 70 yrs old. They appear to be Baldwins or some early varieties that look like a Baldwin apple. I still plan to plant some other varieties and some of the pears that you found for me. I have all winter to do some research work on grafting and I will contact my local extension service and Cornell Institue where a lot of research work is done in the agricultural field. We have our work cut out for us. This is truly a labor of love. We enjoy or country place.

-- Gerald S. Rozanski (Grozanski56@cs.com), November 16, 2000.

If you are looking to save space , you can also graft apples to pear trees . I remember my father had two pear trees with apples on them. I don't think that the nurseries would recommend it but it's a great coversation piece.

-- Roman Fasola (auto1972@hotmail.com), January 28, 2001.

Hi Jerry. You have a wonderful nursery in your own state: St Lawrence Nursery in Potsdam. Unlike most nurseries, they actually grow their own stock; they also develop new varieties. I ordered a package deal of 4 mixed pear varieties from them 2 years ago and the trees are thriving here in central MN. They list 18 varieties on the pear page this year and some of the descriptions sound like the pears you remember from childhood. Catalog is free and educational. Here's how to contact them: http://www.sln.potsdam.ny.us -or- email: trees@sln.potsdam.ny.us -or- St Lawrence Nurseries, 325 State Hwy 345, Potsdam, New York 13676, (315)265 6739. GL Sandy

-- Sandy in MN (jpevans_56353@yahoo.com), January 28, 2001.