Pear tree Old Home×Farmingdale variety No. 87

Abstract

This invention relates to a new and distinct variety of pear tree which is useful as a size-controlling rootstock. The new variety originated as a single seedling selected from a large group of pear seedlings which were grown from open-pollinated seed. This seed was collected from Old Home Pear Trees (Pyrus communis) growing in an isolated planting with Farmingdale pollinizers. Pear fruiting varieties propagated on the under stock of this new rootstock variety are approximately 80% of the size of like pear trees growing on domestic Bartlett seedling rootstocks. This "semi-dwarfing" selection is easily asexually reproduced; particularly by hardwood cuttings. It has proven to be graft compatible with all commercially grown pear varieties. It was selected for its non-rootsuckering habit, its resistance to Fireblight disease and its tolerance of Pear Decline disease. It has also proven to be hardy, early bearing and well anchored in the many areas and soil types where it was tested. It has proven to be adaptable to Northern pear growing areas such as Summerland, British Columbia, Harrow, Ontario, and Kentsville, Nova Scotia, Canada, having been selected to fill these Northern pear growing rootstock needs.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A new and distinct variety of pear tree, referred to by the cultivar designation Old Home×Farmingdale No. 87, substantially as herein shown and described, characterized particularly by its ability to serve as a rootstock for grafting of pear tree cultivars to produce "semi-dwarf" pear trees; further characterized by its excellent yield efficiency, its resistance to the Fireblight disease and its tolerance of the Pear Decline disease; further characterized by its hardiness, its excellent root anchorage, its compatibility with all major commercial pear varieties, its early bearing habit, and its ability to root easily and reproduce readily by vegetative means, particularly by hardwood cuttings.