THE PEARS OF NEW YORK 69 



Few pomologists in these days have the temerity to offer a description 

 compiled in whole or in part. Descriptions are worth while only when 

 made from living specimens before the eyes of the describer. 



SPECIES OF PEARS 



The foregoing pages discussing the characters of pears were preparation 

 for a proper understanding of descriptions of pears. A discussion of the 

 species which constitute or may constitute forms for cultivation either for 

 their fruit or as stocks upon which to grow edible pears logically follows. 



Edible pears fall into two well-marked groups: Those coming from 

 Europe and northwestern Asia, occidental pears; and those coming from 

 eastern and northeastern Asia, oriental pears. 



OCCIDENTAL PEARS 



In this group belong the thousands of varieties under common cultiva- 

 tion in Europe, the United States, and in temperate regions settled by 

 Europeans. These pears are distinct from oriental pears in place of origin, 

 and by fairly well-marked botanical characters. Thus, the leaves of these 

 occidental pears are crenate-serrate and entire and never setose-serrate; 

 and the calyx is persistent on the fruits. For most part, the fruits of the 

 two divisions are quite distinct, especially in shape, but no constant line 

 of cleavage can be found in the pears. There are several species of these 

 occidental pears grown for their fruits or as ornamentals. Only one, 

 however, is of great importance. This is P. communis, to a discussion 

 of which we now come. 



i. PYRUS COMMUNIS Linnaeus. 



1. Linnaeus Sp. PI. 479. 1753. 



2. Loudon Arb. et Frul. Brit. 2:880. 1838. 



3. Schneider Laubholzk. 1:661. 1906. 



Tree vigorous, attaining a height of 50 ft. and a diameter of 2 ft., usually with an 

 upright, oblong, or pyramidal, compact top; bark on trunk of mature trees rough, with large 

 persistent scales; branches usually stout, thorny, variously colored, overlaid with scarf- 

 skin; branchlets glossy, smooth, glabrous, with more or less conspicuous lenticels. Leaf- 

 buds prominent, plump, obtuse or pointed, mostly free; leaf -scars conspicuous. Leaves 

 2 to 4 in. long, i to 25 in. wide, oval or oblong-ovate, thin, hard or leathery, veiny; 

 upper surface dark green, glabrous; lower surface light green, glabrous; both surfaces 

 downy as the leaves open; apex acuminate; margins crenate-serrate or entire, never setose- 

 serrate; teeth often tipped with small glands; petiole i to 2 in. long, slender. Flower- 

 buds larger and plumper then leaf -buds; borne on fruiting spurs in dense or loose clusters 



