Split a bunch of pear today. That stuff has really weird grain. Didn't split easy but not stringy at all. Seems like a smooth pasty grain. But didn't split along the grain at all. More or less just broke apart not along any grain.
The Bradford Pear I have splits well but goes POP! It made me jump out of my skin when it flew across the driveway and bounced off the steps. Overall it splits well aside from the occasional POP though.
these popped a lot too. The grain was just strange, it was all over the place but not stringy like I usually see in weird grain wood.
We have a barlett to take down sometime next year, trying to figure out how to save a large bit just for smoking.
It explodes.lol.. You better watch the jewels when splitting this stuff. It burns good too. I was very surprised with burning it last winter and the heat it gives.
Bradford Pears always seem to be full of knots, crotches, etc., that make them hard to split. The few pieces of clear trunk I have encountered split like a normal tree would.
Try processing some and you'll find out why. I cleaned out my FIL's orchard a few years ago and ended up pushing it over the bank after a couple hours of it. Not the most efficient way to make firewood.