Question
I have a Bartlett pear tree there is a big hole through the center of the base,several limbs are dead,the leaves have small black spots the tree is still producing pears are the pears safe to eat and is there anything to care for the tree

Answer
The pear fruit should be fine to eat. The spots are from a fungus that will infect the leaves and may even get on the fruit. If you see spots on the fruit just peel these and the fruit is still good. Leaf spots can be controlled when the new leaves first bud out. I would plan that next year the newly budding leaves be sprayed with a fungicide. Your local nursery will be able to supply you with a fungicide for leaf spots on pear. This years spots may cause the leaves to drop a little early but should not effect the overall health of the tree. This is not what is causing the branches to die. I am not sure what is could be with the information you provided. Sorry.