For commercial production I expect its pollination. There is a much bigger chance a variety will lose its pollinator and make it useless. I have a bunch of those I grafted myself. I have not had any problems with compatibility but some combos are supposed to be problematic. In particular Euro on Asian is more problematic than the other way. Most of mine are with both on rootstock but I also have some Asian on Euro that are doing well. One combo failed, Olympic on some Euro I don't remember now. I then put Olympic on a different Euro and its doing fine. Scott

Hmmm... I am going to have to modify my statement that they won't ripen off the tree and re-express it as "I don't know if they will ripen off the tree". I went back to the Wisconsin Extension information I read years ago when I was looking to purchase my trees because I had thought it said they wouldn't ripen off the tree. In rereading it i see they don't say that. They say essentially the same as ATTRA does in that they do ripen all the way on the tree unlike European pears. Nothing I have seen yet (haven't looked real hard) explicitly says they won't ripen any further off the tree. So, I don't know.

Thanks very much for your replies! Most of what we've read on this, and from some local folk we've talked to, backs up what gardengal48 wrote - avoid the sealer/paint method. We then figured we'd go the "cut below the break" route, but after clearing away the damage, it's looking like we may just let nature take it's course. I've attached a couple of additional photos - when the main branch broke, it took out a lower, secondary branch (the lower red arrow). Where we'd have to cut below the break is indicated by the upper red arrow. So basically, we'd be left with a stump and one branch. In the 10 years we've been here, all new growth has been generated from the existing 4 branches, 2 of which are now gone and the 3rd would be if we cut. Maybe new branches would generate if we cut off that upper branch? Hopefully, 3 months of dry weather would help the wound to heal, and if we diligently prune that remaining upper branch, then maybe we can generate some lower growth and it will fill out - but please, by all means, feel free to shoot down that very unprofessional logic/guess,as we're open to any suggestions. thanks again for your time and replies!

get rid of the brace ... then post in the fruit forum ... the fruit mavens trim trees a lot differently than the tree peeps ... plz link us over there ... it might be helpful to add a pic of the Y .... something looks wonky there.. but i cant really tell ken ps:.. 9 feet. lol ... pears really dont understand what dwarf means.. lol ...