ANALYSIS OF THE FORMS OF PEARS. 



[By J. E. Teschemachee, Corresponding- Secretary of the Massachusetts Horticultural Society.] 



At the request, and with the assistance of the President and several of 

 the Fruit Committee of the Society, I have devised the following Analysis 

 of the various forms of Pears, which it is hoped will render the descriptions 

 more intelligible, and be useful to those who are incluied to make themselves 

 acquainted with these forms. 



It will be seen that the analysis is performed by means of the simple 

 fundamental figure of a circle, on the variations from which, combined 

 with the different pyramidal forms of the pear, the descriptions are founded ; 

 and in order to exhibit these distinctly, the original circle, when not a 

 portion of the outline of the form, is delineated by dots. 



The examples of pears, of the different forms, will also be of much 

 assistance, yet it must be remembered that it is impossible to give more 

 than a general idea of the outlines, as there are both large and small pears 

 of almost every form, and degree of form, and their outhnes, although in 

 some symmetrical and well defined, are, in others, so irregular, one-sided, 

 and varying, as to puzzle even those most conversant with the subject 

 always to describe them correctly. 



The same forms and explanations may also be used in descriptions of the 

 Apple, with the substitution of pyramidal for pyriform ; and with the 

 observation that the small end of the pyramid in the apple is at the calyx, 

 while in the pear it is at the stem. Thus we have forms of globular, ovate 

 obovate, ovate pyramidal, &c. apples, to all of which the method of analysis 

 of the forms of the pear wiU equally well apply. 



