THE CLASSIFICATION OF PEARS 165 



translated as fully and literally as possible, 

 and then some remarks are added in each 

 case, showing whether or not any American 

 examples of the class can be named. In this 

 matter no attempt has been made to go fur- 

 ther than to name some of the varieties speci- 

 fied by Lucas as representative of each class. 

 It ought to be borne in mind always in 

 studying any European literature on pears 

 that this fruit is comparatively much more 

 important in Germany and France than in 

 America; it is much more popular, better 

 understood, and very much finer distinctions 

 are made in characterization and classifica- 

 tion. 



Lucas* Natural Classification for Pears 



i. BEURR^S (Butterbirnin; Butter Pears}. Fruit with 

 completely melting flesh, in shape true pyriform, or 

 truncate obconic, and regular, without ribs or ridges, 

 of divers colors; mostly longer than broad, seldom as 

 broad as long; never strongly flattened at the stem 

 end, but always tapering toward the stem, and usually 

 obtusely pointed. 



This is the largest group in the classifica- 

 tion, numbering many of the most prominent 

 varieties. Of those named by Lucas the fol- 

 lowing are best known in America : Urban- 



