THE PEARS OF NEW YORK 8 1 



and quite distinct from any pear I know; the fruit is exactly ovate, broad 

 and rounded at the base and tapering from the middle toward the truncate 

 apex, as figured by Schneider (fig. 364 d). This may, however, not be a 

 specific character and the shape of the fruit may vary in other specimens 

 referable to this species. The Chinese material which I have seen and 

 which might belong here is very meagre. The Fokien specimen is in 

 young fruit which suggests a more pyriform shape, though tapering 

 toward the apex and showing the same kind of persistent calyx; the serra- 

 tion of the leaves is more minute and more accumbent. The Yunnan 

 specimen is in flower and differs somewhat in the more copious tomentum 

 of the leaves and of the inflorescence and in the shorter, nearly entire calyx- 

 lobes. 



"It is not known when and whence this species was introduced. 

 Possibly it was sent in the early sixties from northern China by G. E. 

 Simon, or by A. David a little later from the same region or from Mongolia 

 to the Museum in Paris and was afterwards distributed by Decaisne." 



This species is of importance to pear-growers as a stock. Discussing 

 it as a stock, Reimer 1 says: "This species ranks second only to Pyrus 

 ussuriensis in blight resistance. During 1915 we were unable to get the 

 disease to develop more than four inches even in vigorous growing shoots 

 of this species. During the very favorable season of 191 6 vigorous shoots 

 would blight down as much as fifteen inches. As soon as it reached the 

 hard wood of the previous season it would stop. All the inoculations into 

 one and two-year-old trunks have failed to develop the disease. 



" The trees are vigorous growers, and produce medium sized fruit, 

 which is egg-shaped, and has a persistent calyx. This species is a native 

 of northern China, and was formerly known as Pyrus simonii." 



10. PYRUS VARIOLOSA Wallich 

 1. Cat. Xo. 680. 1828. 



Reimer, 1 now a leading authority on blight-resistant stocks, writes 

 of P. variolosa: " This species is one of the most promising types in our 

 collection. The tree is a beautiful, vigorous, upright grower. It makes 

 a good union with cultivated varieties, and should prove valuable as a 

 stock for top-working. 



" This species, while not immune to blight, is very resistant. During 

 the summer of 19 15 a large number of innoculations were made into the 

 tips of young branches, and these usually would blight back for a distance 

 of three to five inches. During 19 16, a very favorable season for pear 



'Reimer, F. C. Reprint from 1916 annual report of Pacific Coast Association of Xurserymen, 

 7. 1916. 



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