In a message dated 02/11/2008 15:22:46 GMT Standard Time,  
[log in to unmask] writes:

<<How could these pears have survived—without anyone taking care  of them?  I
often wonder. >>


    They're pretty hardy. I have an allotment on a site  which dates back to 
1840. There are seventy-odd old aple trees, plus pears and  plums. Many of 
them are very old, some are rare varieties. One is almost buried  in recent tree 
growth. They've survived, with little or no care, for many  decades, and 
they're still flourishing. They really don't need  mollycoddling.  

Regards,

Robert Brenchley
Birmingham  UK


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