O NEBRASKA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



genera, of which the most important from the horticulturist's stand- 

 point are the following: Cotoneaster, of which one or more species 

 are in common cultivation as pretty, thorn-like trees; Cydonia, the 

 quinces ; Pirus, the apples ; Eriobotrya, the Japanese medlars ; Amei- 

 anchier. the service berries ; Mespilus, the common medlars; and Cra- 

 tcegus, 'tlie hawthbrnes. In this paper we are particularly concerned 

 ; ^khjthb'getou3 w.hisb includes the apples, and, as will be seen below, 

 even here we need notice but a few of the many species. 



PIRUS L. 



Flowers containing both stamens and pistils; calyx a five-lobed cup 

 adhering to and enclosing the two to live ovaries; petals five, inserted 

 on the top of the calyx cup ; stamens many (about 20) inserted on 

 the top of the calyx cup ; ovaries usually with two ovules, producing 

 as many seeds ; fruit, a pome, consisting of the enlarged and fleshy 

 calyx cup, enclosing the papery carpels (core) and brown, tough- 

 coated seed ; leaves alternate, deciduous, simple or compound. 



About fifty species of this genus are now known, mostly natives of 

 the north temperate zone, a few extending into the tropics upon high 

 mountains. Seven or eight species occur in North America. 



The genus is divided into six sub-genera, namely : 



1. The Apples (Mains), with globose fruit, containing soft flesh ; leaves 



simple. 



2. The Pears (Eupirus), with pear-shaped fruit, containing granular 



flesh ; leaves simple. 



3. The Beam- Trees (Aria), with pear-shaped or globose fruit, contain- 



ing granular flesh ; leaves simple. 



4. The Choke- Berries (Aronia), with berry-like, pear-shaped, or glo- 



bose fruits, and simple leaves. 



5. The Dwarf- Apples (Micromeles), with small apple-like, 2 to 3 celled 



fruits, and simple leaves. 



6. The Mountain Ashes (Sorbus), with berry-like mostly 3-celled 



fruits, and compound leaves. 



In this paper the species of the first sub-genus only will be noticed, 

 inasmuch as they, alone, are properly entitled to the name "Apple." 

 All the species considered here are of more or less horticultural in- 

 terest. 



