62 THE PEARS OF NEW YORK 



are life events that distinguish some varieties. Leaves are many in some 

 sorts; few in others. The length, thickness, color of the petiole and whether 

 it is smooth, pubescent or channeled are usually worth noting. The 

 presence and the size and color of stipules are often important enough to 

 record. The petioles of pear leaves are larger and slenderer than those 

 of the apple, and the foliage of a pear-tree has something of the tremulous 

 habit of the aspen and other poplars. The leaves have a gloss that 

 distinguishes them at once from those of the apple-tree. As a rule, the 

 foliage of the pear drops earlier in the autumn than that of the apple. 



When the leaves of pears open in the spring they are folded along the 

 midrib, and are covered with snow-white wool, but at full maturity no 

 trace of this woolly covering remains. The amount and texture of this 

 covering on the leaves of different varieties vary greatly, although it is 

 doubtful if this character is of much use for taxonomic purposes. 



Flower-buds and flowers. — It is not possible to distinguish flower-buds 

 from leaf -buds by their external appearance as certainly as might be wished 

 for the purposes of ascertaining what the crop will be and that pruning 

 and budding may be done more intelligently. As a rule, however, the 

 flower-buds are larger, plumper, and have a blunter point. The flower-buds 

 are much like leaf-buds in color — usually a dark brown. They may be 

 readily told by their contents when examined under a microscope. Time 

 of opening is a mark of distinction with varieties that bloom very early 

 or very late, but the flowers of most varieties of pears open at approxi- 

 mately the same time. 



The flowers of pears give small opportunity to identify varieties but 

 are useful. The petals in most of the flowers of varieties of P. commtmis 

 meet or lap at the widest point, which is a short distance from the point 

 of attachment. Occasionally a variety has the petals widely separated. 

 Easter Beurre, Vermont Beauty, and Dana Hovey are examples of varieties 

 with widely-separated petals. Round and broadly-oval petals meet or 

 lap, long narrow petals are usually separated. The size, shape, and color 

 of the petals offer the best means of identification from flowers. The 

 length, thickness, and amount and kind of pubescence on the styles may 

 distinguish varieties. The styles of the Howell pear are abnormally short. 

 The number of flowers in a cluster, and whether the cluster is dense or 

 loose are important. The character of the fruit-spurs is nearly always 

 noteworthy. The calyx-tubes, calyx-lobes, and pedicels differ materially. 

 These structures in the flower, while offering decisive evidence in identifica- 



