PEAR. 



171 



The insects and diseases commonly attacking the apple are 

 the codlin moth, flat headed apple tree borer, tent caterpillar, 

 apple curculio, apple leaf lice, and among the common diseases 

 are scab and fire blight. See Chapter III, Insects, and Chapter 

 IV, Diseases. 



Pear. 



Pear growing has been an important matter in the North- 

 eastern states since the early settlement of the country, ami 

 has attained great commercial importance in parts of California 

 of late years. In the interior states the pear has been subject 

 to fire blight and its cultivation has made little progress. In 

 the Gulf states the sand pear hybrids only are grown. The pear 

 is probably nearly as hardy as the apple against climatic trou- 

 bles. 



Origin. The commonly cultivated pear of America and 

 Europe has been developed from the wild pear (Pyrus com- 

 munis) of Europe and Asia. In its native state the fruit is hard 

 and inferior. Pliny said of the pears in his time that they all 

 had to be cooked to be eaten. The greatest improvement in 

 pears was made by Von Mons in Belgium early in the nine- 

 teenth century. He originated many of the best kinds now 

 grown. 



The Chinese 

 Sand Pear (Pyrus 

 sinensis) was in- 

 troduced into this 

 country about the 

 middle of the last 

 century and was 

 for many years 

 cultivated mostly 

 as a curiosity and 

 for ornament. It 

 is a vigorous tree, 

 with broad, shin- 

 ing, very resist- 

 Fig. 81. Forms of Pears. A. Solid line shows *^n *~A 



obtuse pyrlform. Dotted line, round. B. ant foliage and 

 Solid line shows oblong obovate. Dotted conspicuous fruit 

 line', acute pyriform. 



