60 THE PEARS OF NEW YORK 



pears. Bartlett and Beurre Bosc arc relatively tender to cold, Tyson is 

 hardy, and Flemish Beauty is very hardy. Less important, but still of 

 some importance, is the ability to withstand heat, a character possessed in 

 varying degrees by varieties of pears. 



Productiveness, age of bearing, regularity of bearing, certainty of 

 bearing, and longevity are constitutional characters that must be noted in 

 full descriptions. All help to determine the value of a variety, and all aid 

 more or less in classification. For most part, these are inherent characters 

 and are influenced but little by environment. 



The degree of susceptibility of a variety to fungous diseases and insect 

 pests is a valuable cultural character, but has little use in identifying or 

 classifying pears. There are great variations in varieties of pears to the 

 dreaded pear-blight: Bartlett, Beurre Bosc, Beurre d'Anjou, and Clapp 

 Favorite are among the varieties most susceptible; Kieffer, Seckel, and 

 Winter Nelis are among those least susceptible to blight. Kieffer and 

 related hybrids are somewhat immune to San Jose scale, but are very 

 susceptible to psylla. Flemish Beauty and White Doyenne are so badly 

 attacked by the scab-fungus that it is almost impossible to grow them in 

 eastern America. 



Some of these constitutional characters are much modified by care and 

 environment, as all are more or less. Care and local environment often 

 make it possible to grow varieties in special localities, although some 

 varieties are inherently adapted to a greater number of diverse conditions 

 than others. Bartlett, Seckel, and Kieffer have in common as one of their 

 most valuable characters adaptability to a great diversity of soils and 

 climates. 



Trunk and branch. — The trunk does not count for much in descriptions 

 of varieties. The height of the trunk usually depends on the whims of the 

 pruner. Whether stout or slender is sometimes noteworthy. The bark 

 may be smooth or shaggy. Color of bark is often a valuable diagnostic 

 character, especially in young trees. Many if not most varieties of pears 

 can be identified in nursery rows by an expert nurseryman from the color 

 of the bark. Seckel, Sheldon, and Beurre d'Anjou have remarkably 

 distinctive color as young trees. 



The branches of pear-trees are often reliable guides in identifying 

 varieties in orchard or nursery, especially when trees are leafless and fruitless. 

 The twisting, drooping branches of Winter Nelis serve to identify that 

 variety at any time. The zigzag branches of Beurre d'Anjou and Bloodgood 



