[mafost]

I moved into my house 3 years ago and it has a pear tree which produces very small conference type pears. Unfortunately these appear to be inedible. Does this mean it is an ornamental tree or is it an edible one that needs help. If so, what do I do?

[mumofstig]

I found this, which may help

from The Arbor Centre:
Pears do not ripen on the tree. They mature, then fall off and ripen on the ground. Pick the fruit when it looks mature, and put it in a cool place, indoors. Pears will soften for eating within a few days or a few weeks, depending on variety, but do not continue to store them once they have softened.
September-ripening kinds, such as ‘William’s Bon Chretien’ ripen after a week or so off the tree. ‘Conference’ matures later and can take a few weeks to soften. If pears are picked too soon, they tend to simply dry up and wither without softening. If they are picked too late, the fruit softens quite quickly but soon develops brown mushy flesh at the centre.

[Poolfield2]

Other possibility is that they are Perry Pears and they never become edible but they have their uses, hic, hic!