Evening Republican, Volume 20, Number 293, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 December 1916 — THE SECKEL PEAR [ARTICLE]

THE SECKEL PEAR

It la well known among horticulturists that many of the most valuable t|\ilts and flowers have been the chlL cren of Chance, and the Seckel pear la an example amongst fruits. It sprang up in a meadow near what is now League Island Navy Yard, Philadelphia, and a few years ago the original tree was still standing, as it may be today. From what j>ear the seed cam*; that gave it life Is not known. It must be fully one hundred years ago tnat it sprang Into existence. The writer knew the pear fifty years ago, and It was then as popular as It la today. In company with several other pears. It has no beauty of appearance to attract. A dark brown tinted with red, would describe 1L There is not a deep yellow or other signs of Its being ripe as many other fruits show. Its size is not large, so that altogether there Is nothing to proclaim It what it Is, the standard of excellence among pears. This claim has never been dis puted by anyone who has %aten it when In its prime, so delicious is Its flavor. Depending on where grown for exact time of ripening. In the south eastern part of Pennsylvania It is an early October pear. How much climate has to do with the estimation of this pear, as well as of all fruits, is well known to fruit growers. It is probable that In British Columbia the Seckel is not esteemed as It Is here, for there l.i more rain and less heat there than here; and in England, with a climate somewhat similar to that of British Columbia, the Seckel Is not good at all. On the other hand, the Bartlett known In England and Germany as Williams’ Bon Chreteln, Is a far ijet’er pear here than it Is there, though not a native here. Three excellent pears, all listed among leading kinds for flavor, are the Bartlett, Seckel and lav. i ripening In the order named, Bartlett In early September, Seckel in early October, and Lawrence In mid-Octo-ber, all varying a little In date according to season and locality. These notes are being penned when a few Seckels are still on the trees, and Lawrence are ripening, and should be all gathered soon toy fear o' freezings. This last one, Lawrence, is classed as a winter pear, because of its late ripening, which pennits of its being kept through the winter in cold storage. Jhe Anjou, Beurre d’Anjou as it used to be called, also ripens at about the same time as Lawrence, or a little earlier, and is an excellent winter pear, kept as the Lawrence may be, but though greatly lauded, and undoubtedly a good pear, the Law rence takes first place with many.