The Canadian Horticulturist. 431 



IDENTIFICATION OF VARIETIES OF HARDY ORCHARD 



FRUITS. 



^HE Pear. Form. — May be described as for the apple, except 

 that many kinds are pyriform, instead of " conical," and turbinate 

 or top-shaped is very common. Some, like Kieffer, which taper 

 towards both ends, may be called biconical. The definitions of 

 the stem end may be simply pointed like Tyson, depressed as 

 the Angouleme, or with the stem deeply sunken, when it re- 

 sembles the " cavity " of the apple. Most of the Asiatic pears 

 are thus formed. 

 The core differs from that of the apple in being sometimes hard and gritty. 

 Color. — As to this, there is an almost entire absence of striping with plain 

 colors, exceptions being found in some kinds, especially when grown well to the 

 North. 



The stem has a tendency to be set at an angle to the axis of the fruit, being 

 then termed inclined. The flesh is apt to be buttery, melting, and often 

 granular. 



The Quince varies but slightly in form. Some have a plainly defined neck. 

 Some are more angular than others, but all are slightly so. In size they vary 

 quite decidedly. The season of ripening gives little clue to the name. 



The Peach is a fruit of plainly separated strains or races. We all know 

 the distinctive type called Indian, with its peculiarly brownish and striped fruit 

 and dark colored twigs. The Spanish and Chinese strains, now coming into suc- 

 cessful culture in the South, where our common varieties of the Persian stock 

 fail, have their own pecularities of tree and fruit. All kinds easily divided into 

 cling, semi-clings, and freestones. 



In form tl^ are either round, oblong, pointed, like Heath Cling, or unequal. 

 A crease or suture running parallel to the edge of the stone is found in greater 

 or less degree in all specimens, and is worthy so far as it differs in varieties 



In color the peach is much more constant than the apple. It is greenish, 

 cream-colored white, yellow, red, or blushed, mottled, specked and striped with 

 carmine, in all possible tints and shades. The color of the flesh corresponds 

 quite well with the ground color of the skin. In texture it is firm and inclined to 

 be tough, or like Louise. Some kinds are very dry and mealy, and others 

 dripping with juices. 



Another reliable mark is the color of the flesh at the stone. The variety 

 called Snow has no tint of red even there. But a great many kinds are red or 

 pink, with either white or yellow flesh. 



The stone itself is plump and short (in Peento about the shape and size of 

 a very round hazelnut), or long and pointed, and very coarsely corrugated and 



