As part of the Friends of the Library programme, author Buks Nel and illustrator Ros Nel will read excerpts from their book, People, Pears and the Stories they Share, at the Somerset West Library at 18:00 on Thursday 16 March.
According to Nizam Bray, Somerset West’s principal librarian, the library on the corner of Victoria and Andries Pretorius streets regularly hosts writers who read and discuss their books. “This will be the first book discussion about pears, and we look forward to learning about some of the pear tree stories as if told by the trees themselves,” said Bray.
This is the third fruit book by Buks and colleague Henk Griessel, who both work for Tru-Cape Fruit Marketing at its head office in Somerset West. The other books, Apples in the Early Days at the Cape and The Newcomers and their Friends will also be available to purchase on the night, while lending copies will be in the library too.
As Tru-Cape’s new variety specialist Buks’ job is to find new and improved apple and pear cultivars. But, as he says: “If you don’t know where you come from how can you know where you are going?” In the search for new fruit, he has rediscovered the old. Together with Griessel, he has established heritage orchards of varieties no longer in commercial production to save their genes for future generations in Grabouw and Ceres.
Ros, an artist and long-time Somerset West resident, illustrated the book and will share the reading with her husband Buks, who says most alumni of Stellenbosch University are proud of their City of Oaks. Oak-lined streets are as much part of Stellenbosch as the maroon of the Maties’ rugby jerseys, but other towns and villages may have their streets lined with willows or thorn trees.
In the early days in Beaufort West no tree could be removed unless another one, preferably a pear, was quickly planted to take its place. Today Beaufort West is festooned in pear trees.
According to Nel, a pear tree played a special role in the bootleg Witblitz distilled in Calitzorp and the details are shared in the book. The Wild Asian pears of Nieu Bethesda are detailed along with the oldest still producing Beurre Hardy pear orchard, planted many years ago and perfectly maintained by Elsenberg Agricultural College in Stellenbosch. The calabash pear in Worcester’s Beckhuis may also be among the oldest.
The book explains the stories behind the oldest and second oldest pear trees in South Africa. “The oldest is a well-known matter of public record,” Buks points out. “It still stands in The Company’s Garden in Cape Town. But, to learn about the second oldest tree you will have to join us on the night.”
- Books will be available for sale on the night at R250.
- There is no charge to attend the reading, but booking is essential on brianb@tru-cape.co.za, 021 400 4820 or nizam.bray@capetown.gov.za.
