@clarkinks I found out where Omar H. Ayer’s Farm was
2 Likes
I used to attend a church that I think now has part of his 160 acres. I will make sport of hunting around his farm and the old Mount Hope Nursery. Most of that land has been developed, but who knows. Some of Ayer’s original trees probably still live at various farms around Kansas. I think he with Mount Hope planted trees on campus.
2 Likes
Im glad Ayer, Estella, and Douglas pears are all once again growing in Douglas county kansas.
Yes,! 120 years later and a couple miles from the old mount Hope nursery. Thanks for helping acquire the scion. I may try putting Ayer and Estella on quince to see about producing fruit a little quicker.
2 Likes
They will fruit quickly. Ayer had a tendency to use Duchess D’ angoulme in his crosses which made them fruit quickly. I’m relieved we are getting all these old peears back out there. I may have lost ince to time. Ayer, douglas, and estella are unknown outside this community mostly. Douglas is becoming much more common now since we propagated it heavily in the last 10 years. Im seeing dozens of nurseries now carrying it. It is one of my favorites. It is like douglas and kieffer with very heavy production.
3 Likes