Question
QUESTION: Tom, I read with interest your info on growing pear seedlings from seed. Can I be sure the seedling will be an exact clone of the original tree? There are other pear trees in the area such as Kiefer which I don't want.

ANSWER: Hi Barbara,
Thanx for your question.  No, you cannot be sure a seed from your pear tree will be an exact clone particularly if the tree is a hybrid and if there are other varieites growing nearby, there is bound to be cross-pollination but unless you have heirloom or heritage pear trees you have hybrids and the seeds will not come true.  I hope this helps.
Tom

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thanks, Tom. I suspected as much and should have known it. I did take college biology! I presume rooting green cuttings will be the best way to assure an exact tree since I don't want to try grafting. Our old pear tree is about 60 years old and nobody can tell us what kind of pear it is. The pears are huge, round, very sweet, and juicy. They can beautifully but will not keep long like other varieties. The skin is tender also.  The tree is highly disease resistant. Someone mentioned "pineapple pear." Is there such a variety?

Answer
Hi Barbara,
Thanx for the additional information.  There IS a variety called the pineapple pear and it is not open pollinated to my knowledge.  But, it is not round.  It is a elongated, classical pear shape and the pears seemingly grow in clusters.  Yours DOES sound like a heritage pear because of its disease resistance, quality taste but thin skin.  The heirlooms or heritage fruit did not ship well and that's when breeders started looking for tougher skins and longer keeps.  This happened to the tomato and fragile veggies.  Fruit tree cuttings are difficult to start but I would go ahead and try. I hope this helps.
Tom