WILD SERVICE-TREE. 133 



covered with a white mealy down, as are also the under- 

 sides of the leaves, to such a degree as to give the tree its 

 name. The flowers are larger than those of the Mountain 

 Ash, and are succeeded by pale red berries, resembling in 

 shape those of the Siberian Crab. Without being by any 

 means common or well known, it occurs occasionally in 

 various parts of England and Scotland. In the north of 

 Devon and in Surrey I have seen it reaching a large size, 

 and bearing abundance of fruit ; but where the soil is not 

 congenial, or the situation is confined, it scarcely merits 

 the rank of a tree. The finest are said to grow near Blair, 

 in Perthshire. 



The fruit is used for the same purpose as that of the 

 Eoan-tree, and, if kept till it begins to decay, is somewhat 

 more palatable, for in this state, like the Medlar, it loses a 

 great deal of its austerity. It is eagerly devoured by birds, 

 and on this account is in France protected by law, our 

 neighbours having anticipated us in the discovery that the 

 hostility of birds against insects more than compensates 

 in its effects for the occasional depredations which the 

 former commit in our orchards and gardens. The wood of 

 the White-Beam is very heavy and of a close texture, and 

 is much used, especially on the Continent, for the cogs of 

 wheels in machinery. 



WILD SEEYICE-TEEE. 

 PYRUS TORMINALIS. 



THIS species differs from the last in having its dark, 

 glossy leaves lobed very like those of the Maple, whence 

 it is sometimes called "Maple-Service." The fruit, which 

 is brown and dotted when ripe, and not much larger than 

 that of the Hawthorn, begins to decay when the frost has 

 touched it, and is then agreeably acid and wholesome. Its 

 geographical distribution is nearly the same with the 

 White-Beam ; but it is not found in Scotland or Ireland. 



