Sometimes you see that kind of thing when unicode is not properly converted, it could be the French � is getting the label printer confused. Unicode is the new number-character mapping for computers that supports all the languages of the world so needs to use up to four ASCII characters to represent one character. Sometimes you see the same kind of thing here when people paste from some program into their message and the unicode doesn't get properly converted.

Scott

PS notice GW even got confused on unicode, the � was one of those French e with accent over it when I typed it above -- é.

PPS Hey thats funny, when I hit submit GW mangled the unicode even worse! Anyway you can see how the single funny-e that I typed turned into multiple characters.

Scott

Scott, this is in several different online catalogs, as well as on my receipt from Raintree. Take a look via the link below.

Patty S.

Here is a link that might be useful: Raintree Nursery: Comice E. Pear

Okay, found the answer to my question :-) It does, indeed, stand for "European Type" as opposed to an Asian pear type, which for some reason is not identified as "A." as in "Asian Type". Obscure pear (E. Type) trivia solved.

Patty S.

Do I still get a consolation prize for my Obscure Answer?

:-)

Scott

Hah! You bet, Scott. Especially if you come over and help me drop in my 4 new heirloom pears that arrived yesterday :-) Gotta go dig 4 holes for my Rescue pear, White Doyenne E. Pear , Suij E. Pear and a Doyenne de Juliette E. Pear :-) Fortunately we had a wee bit of rain last night, so hopefully I can leave the pick ax and impact shovel in the garage :-)

Patty S.