I own an old house 1800's. next to the house are several trees that drop large yellow hard-covered fruit. Is this an old pear tree? the fruit is cylinder shaped the tatse is woody and a bit bitter.

-- hugh jenkins (fhjthird@hotmail.com), November 21, 2001

Answers

sounds like a hedge apple. If so when/if you try to cut it down you will see sparks from your saw blade. as far as I knoe you can not eat them. They are susposed to to good for getting rid of spiders

-- grant (organicgrange@yahoo.com), November 21, 2001.

Osage orange is another name they're known by. They can make wicked cannonballs in a make-believe war. People around here used to put them in closets as natural pest repellents.

-- Debbie in S IL (dc1253@hcis.net), November 21, 2001.

Is it green on the tree? does the tree have thorns? is the surface look like a hairy brain? Then you have an osage orange. And hats off to you for being brave enough to take a bite!

But because you suspect a pear & the fruit is yellow skinned I'll bet you have an old variety of european storage pear or asian pear. Most pears also need to sit a while after being harvested to ripen fully. Put a couple in a paper sack & check them every few days to see if they soften any, then try one & see if the taste has improved.

-- bj pepper in C. MS. (pepper.pepper@excite.com), November 21, 2001.

Osage orange cylindrical? An osage orange is not easily misidentified. (to my mind, anyways). An osage orange fruit is greenish yellow, round and has brain like wrinkled bubbles on the outside. Its about the size of a softball. The tree was used for fences back in the day of our forefathers, as it can be planted close together and thrives in most places. I believe it originated in mid america, near missouri area and was transplanted extensivly. The tree has more uses than just fencing. It also is a source of yellowish dye (i believe this comes from the wood). The trees fruit are eaten by livestock, but are inedible to humans. Another identifier: the tree often has long thorns. Is this it, or something different??, perhaps the 'cylinder shaped' description threw me for a loop.

-- Kevin in NC (vantravlrs@aol.com), November 21, 2001.

If you take one in to your local extension agent, he can probably id it for you.

-- mary (marylgarcia@aol.com), November 21, 2001.

Does it have a smoothish skin, but a sort of lumpy shape? Does it have seeds in it inside like an apple or a pear? I suspect that you may have a Quince tree. The fruit is very hard and no good for eating fresh, it has to be cooked for a long time, either stewed or baked, and is also used to make jelly, and a wonderful Spanish sweet - - Quince Paste -- that is delicious with cheeses.

-- julie f. (rumplefrogskin@excite.com), November 22, 2001.

My bet is a quince, also Makes great pectin and jelly, but not much else.

-- Jim Deweese (jedeweese@earthlink.net), November 22, 2001.

My immediate thought was a quince, but it's not quite what you describe. If the fruit is hard ALL THROUGH, with a thin yellow skin, and looks a bit like a cross between a pear and a Delicious or five- crown apple (and with those sort of seeds), then it's a quince. They make magnificent stewed fruit - skin, quarter, seed, cook with sugar, they cook up a pink colour, and incredibly aromatic. Beautiful!

If the fruit has a hard skin over soft interior, then I can't help you. In any case, I'd suggest asking your local agricultural extension officer, or an older neighbour.

-- Don Armstrong (darmst@yahoo.com.au), November 22, 2001.

aah, I did not even think of a quince! Mine are all small fruited. And form bushes not trees.

If it is a quince it may have a sweet smell to it. A plant nursery could also id the fruit for you. Or a gardening nieghbor. Good luck!

-- bj pepper in C. MS. (pepper.pepper@excite.com), November 22, 2001.