Bartlett pears

BARTLETT PEARS

Posted By: Betsy Hernandez
Date: 1/27/2008 at 00:39:33

The Marble Rock News
Greene, Iowa

November 13, 1929

New Apples, Pears Are Now Possible In Iowa

We knew that for a long time the state fruit breeding farm at Charles City had been breeding new varieties of apples, but never dreamed of breeding Bartlett pears, such as the following record tells about.
A pear that would equal the famous Bartlett in flavor and be hardly enough to withstand the vigorous climate of all sections of Iowa – such was the dream years ago of those who were engaged in fruit breeding work at the Iowa Agricultural Experiment Station at Ames. The dream was made to come true because of diligent work and now the pear problem is solved in Iowa, in the belief of H.L. Lantz, chief of the pomology section of the Iowa station.
The Patten pear is the variety proven wholly reliable for Iowa and a number of nurseries have stocks
ready to sell Iowa people. Good qualities and hardness make it superior to any northern Iowa. Another variety, Beirschmitt, is exceedingly, promising. It is of the Bartlett type and is recommended for all parts of Iowa. It was withstood winter injury and in many ways is superior to the Bartlett because of its size, quality and keeping features. Should it hold up under all conditions it will be the greatest find in fruit growing in years, according to Mr. Lantz.
But the solving of Iowa’s pear problem is only a small part of the work of the pomologists at Ames. They have developed and introduced four superior varieties of apples for Iowa – the Sharon, Hawkeye Greening Monona and Secor.
The Sharon is a red winter apple of good quality and extreme hardiness. This variety bears early and has proved very satisfactory. The Hawkeye Greening has withstood winter injury and proved very satisfactory. The Hawkeye Greening has withstood winter injury and proved very vigorous. It is a large productive apple that bids fair to displace the Northwestern Greening in northern Iowa as it is a much more reliable producer.
The Monona is another red apple of the Christmas season. It is a somewhat of a novelty because pf its peculiar perfumed smell and flavor it is of good texture and flavor and is adaptable to the central and northern sections of state because of its reliability and vigor.
For southern Iowa the Secor variety may replace the Jonathan since it seems to be free from the defects usually found in Jonathan. It is not affected by the diseases Jonathan spot and soft scald, and is a much better keeper than the Jonathan. It is of good texture and fine flavor.
These varieties have been developed and recommended after much careful investigation after, such careful investigation and although they have not been subjected to all conditions, since there hasn’t been a season severe on fruit since 1918 they indicate in all cases that they are of much value.