118 SYSTEMATIC POMOLOay 



and too cold in the winter, lili^dit, also, is more virulent in 

 tlu'sc n'jrions than in those first named, and makes pear-eulture 

 ])reearious even where elimale Taxors. Calil'dnna and New 

 York are tlie leadin;^^ pear-growinj^ states, in i)oth of which tlie 

 industry is handicai)j)ed \)y l)li^''ht. The introduction of the 

 Sand i)ear from China, and its hybridization with the European 

 si)ecies, promises to extend the culture of this fruit in the South 

 and Midtlle West, where, because of blight, it is now hardly 

 l)ossible to grow pears. 



171. The Sand pear. — A second species, P. scrot'ina, the Sand 

 pear from China, funushes to the industry in America perhaps 

 a score of varieties. The Sand i)ear produces handsome fruits 

 in ofreat abundance wliicli can be kept much longer than the 

 European pears, but the fruits are scarcely edible uncooked and 

 are of inditferent (juality in culinary preparations. The Sand 

 pear, however, is of much more importance for its hybrids than 

 for its pure-bred varieties. The hybrids of the Asiatic with the 

 European pear are remarkable for vigor, hardiness, productive- 

 ness, and freedom from blight. These hybrids, of which Kieffer 

 is best known, are suitable for culinary purposes, and when 

 properly ripened may be used a-s dessert fruits. 



4. Pyrus serotina, Eehd. (Plate IT) Tree vigorous, upright, attain- 

 ing a height of 20-50 feet, the branehlets becoming glabrous. Leaves 

 ovate-oblong, sometimes ovate, 3-5 inches long, rounded at the base, long- 

 acuminate, sharply setose-serrate; lower surface cobwebby but becoming 

 glabrous. Flowers white, borne in 6-9 flowered umbellate-racemose clus- 

 ters; calyx-lobes long-acuminate, glandulose denticulate; petals oval, short- 

 clawed; stamens about 20; styles 4 or 5, glabrous. Fruit subglobose, russet- 

 brown; stalk slender; calyx deciduous. 



Pomologists are interested in the type species, which comes 

 from central and western China, only as a possible source of 

 blight-resistant stocks for varieties of the common pear. Stocks 

 from the species were introduced some years ago on the Pacific 

 slope, but have proved unsatisfactory because difficult to bud, 

 very susceptible to leaf-blight, and not immune to pear-blight. 

 There are two botanical varieties to one of which the Sand pear 

 belongs. This variety is described as follows : 



Yar. culta, Eehd. Sand Pear. Japanese Pear. Chinese Pear. Tree 

 strong and rapid in growth, with strong thick shoots. Leaves very large, 



