134 THE PEAR. 



It occurs occasionally in Cornwall as a hedge-bush, and in 

 some other of the southern counties is said to attain the 

 height of fifty feet ; but it is nowhere common. 



The " True Service-tree " (Pyrus Sorbus) is a doubtful 

 native of Britain; but this is rarely met with even in a 

 cultivated state, and requires no further mention. 



The name " Service-tree " is often applied indiscrimi- 

 nately to all the above species of Pyrus, but belongs more 

 particularly to the last, 



THE PEAE. 

 PYRUS COMMUNIS. 



THE Pear-tree, in its wild state, varies considerably in 

 different countries, both in its mode of growth, and in the 

 shape, size, and pubescence of its leaves. Some of these 

 are probably distinct species, and inhabit most parts of 

 Europe and Asia ; but, as we have only to deal with the 

 British form of the tree, it is unnecessary to pursue this 

 subject. It is found in most counties of England, growing 

 in woods and hedges. Its outline, when it stands alone, 

 is pyramidal : the branches are at first erect, then curved 

 downwards and pendulous ; in a truly wild state, thorny. 

 The young leaves are slightly downy beneath, but, when 

 mature, are quite smooth on both sides. When it is culti- 

 vated the thorns on the branches disappear, as in the Plum. 

 The flowers grow in clusters, and are large and of a pure 

 white. The fruit is much smaller than that of any of the 

 cultivated varieties, hard, austere, and unfit to eat ; its only 

 use is to mix with cultivated sorts in making perry. The 

 wood was formerly sought after for wood-engraving, but is 

 only adapted to coarse designs : it is also sometimes dyed 

 black, in imitation of ebony. 



Eor usefulness as a fruit-tree the Pear is rivalled only 

 by the Apple, furnishing abundance of fruit, which is 



