With the brothers Wells conspicuous by their abscence (are they out there right now, spreading fireblight?), Albert has an opportunity to talk to Dr Kathryn Bruce, a social historian of horticulture and plant science who recently completed her PhD at the University of St Andrews. Kathryn's PhD had the title "The Fireblight Menace: Knowledge communities and their response to crop disease in the Anglo-world, 1880-1939", which attracted Albert's fascination as rapidly as new growth in a Gin Pear tree attracts Erwinia amylovor.

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As a point of reference, the British pear varieties Albert has observed to be resistant to fireblight appear to be: Thorn, Hendre Huffcap, Yellow Huffcap, Red Pear, Butt, Winnal's Longdon, Taynton Squash, Hellen's Early and Barland. The varieties that are susceptible are Gin Pear, Moorcroft, White Bache, Oldfield, Green Horse, Turner's Barn, Bartestree Squash, Dead Boy, and Blakeney Red.

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