Mooers (PI 541314).-Originated in Knoxville, Tennessee, by Brooks D. Drain, Tennessee Agriculture Experiment Station. Introduced in 1954. Duchesse d'Angouleme x Late Faulkner; hybridized in 1934; tested as Tennessee 34S272. Fruit: large; skin golden russet; ripening extends from late September into October; keeps until December under refrigeration; fine for canning. Tree: large; upright; vigorous; resistant to fire blight and leaf spot, pollen sterile. - Brooks and Olmo Register of Fruit and Nut VarietiesThe Mooers pear has attracted attention as a late fall and winter variety that is resistant to fire blight. It was developed by crossing Duchessee d' Angouleme with Late Faulkner, in 1934. The Mericourt tree as it looked in 1953 is upright in habits of growth, sturdy, and very healthy. Even unsprayed trees have remained healthy. It is likely to be especially valuable in locations where the leaf spots are very serious. Produces good annual crops. The crop is harvested in late September and may be ripened from October into December. Fruit is large in size, golden russet in color, and attractive. Flesh is crisp, subacid, and good in quality. Rated good for canning. Replicated trials were located at the Highland Rim Experiment Station, Springfield, Tennessee; and six neighboring stations. Tree: Large in size and vigorous, upright, becoming a spreading tree With loads of fruit, top moderately dense. Trunk medium stocky and dark gray; branches medium in length and thickness dull gray with medium-sized raised lenticels. Leaf buds small, long and pointed: leaf scars obscure. Leaves: petiole 1 to 1 3/8 inches long, thick, color pink, surface pubescent; blade 2 7/8 to 3 inches by 1 7/8 to 1 15/16 inches wide, slightly folded; mid-rib slightly reflex; sides slightly waved, outline oblong; base broad, apex broad, point small, short and acute; general color dark green, vein color green; serrations dentate, direction forward. size small and regular; position spreading; surface shiny, texture medium, pubescence short, fine and wooly. Flower buds medium in size, spherical, plump and bluntly pointed. Flowers: late, starting to open March 19, (1953) at Knoxville, Tennessee; medium Size-1 1/16 inches across; color white tinged pink, blossoms appear after or at the start of leafing; clusters open, small, 3 to 6 flowers each, umbel shape, pedicel short, medium thick, 3/4 inches long, sparingly pubescent to glabrous; pollen sterile, distribution good. Fruit: Picked in September at Knoxville, Tennessee; large-3 1/4 by 3 inches-uniform in size and shape, roundish obovate, pyriform: stem 7/8 inch long, thick, often fleshy at the base and inserted at an angle: cavity acute, shallow, broad: calyx open, large; lobes separated at base, medium in length, broad: basin deep, wide, abrupt and furrowed: skin thick, medium in toughness, rough and medium glossy; color greenish yelllow mottled with russet: dots many, large russeted and conspicuous: core large, open, abaxile with core lines meeting; calyx tube medium in length and width and funnel-shape; carpels roundish; seeds large, long, wide and plump; flesh yellowish-white often tinged with green, firm, crisp, tender and moderately juicy; flavor subacid; sprightly, mild and good; canning quality good; can be kept until December. - release notice.