52 SYSTEMATIC POMOLOGY 



The bloom is the waxy, whitish substance 

 covering the outside of the fruit. It is of 

 very doubtful value in distinguishing varieties, 

 being, apparently, more characteristic of the 

 climate in which the fruit is grown. About 

 all that can be said about the bloom in a fruit 

 description is to mention its amount, saying 

 whether it be scant, moderate, or abundant. 

 In order to determine this matter quickly it 

 is usually sufficient to scrape the surface of 

 the fruit lightly with the knife blade. What- 

 ever bloom there may be will be caught up 

 on the steel, and may be estimated at a glance. 

 In certain cases this bloom is peculiarly oily, 

 and this quality is to some degree a mark of 

 the variety. Such observations will be men- 

 tioned, of course, in the description. 



The skin may be thin or thick, tough or brit- 

 tle. Rarely it has some taste of its own. There 

 is seldom anything more to be said about it. 



The flesh is always to be critically described. 

 Its color should first be mentioned. Next its 

 texture is described. This may be hard or 

 soft, coarse or fine grained, crisp, spongy, 

 granular, or woody. The flesh may be dry or 

 iuicy. It is customary to speak of pears as 

 melting or sometimes as buttery. 



