ROSACESAPPLE. PEARPLUM. 135 



to have leguminous fruit; and by one of these two characters all 

 the plants of the family are known." 



105. Many plants of this family yield seeds, the coty'ledons 

 of which are thick and fleshy, and formed chiefly of fecula, that 

 serve us for food ; others furnish gum, the different a'cacice for 

 example ; some are used as purgative medicines, such as the senna 

 and tamarind ; and others yield colouring matters, which are very 

 useful in the arts, such as indigo, campeachy wood, &c. 



106. Most of our fruit trees belong to the FAMILY OF ROSA'CE^E, 

 the type of which is the rose tree. This family takes its place 

 near the Legumino'sa?, in the division of peripetalous dico- 

 ty'ledons. The flower of these plants is composed of a mono- 

 sepalous calyx, with four or five divisions, and a corolla almost 

 always composed of from four to five petals regularly displayed ; 

 the stamens are generally numerous; the leaves are alternate, 

 and the form of the fruit varies a great deal. We place in this 

 family, which also includes many ornamental plants, the apple, 

 oear, plum, cherry, peach, apricot, quince, medlar, almond, 

 strawberry, raspberry, dewberry, &c. 



107. The apple tree Pyrus rnalus grows to from fifteen to 

 twenty feet in height, and bears oval, dentate leaves, smooth on 

 both sides, and white flowers tinted with rose colour externally. 

 It is indigenous to the forests of Europe, and in the wild state, 

 flowers about the beginning of May, but earlier when cultivated. 

 The structure of its fruit has already been mentioned (fig. 116). 

 More than a hundred varieties are known ; this tree only flourishes 

 in temperate climates, and succeeds best in a deep and slightly 

 humid soil ; it may live two hundred years. The apple is a 

 wholesome and agreeable fruit ; the most important product from 

 it is rider, a more or less spirituous liquor, obtained by ferment- 

 ing the juice of the fruit, which is obtained by pressing it. 



108. The pear tree Pyrus communis a tree similar to the 

 preceding, is also indigenous to the forests of Europe ; it succeeds 

 best in a rich soil, but also accommodates itself to dry and sandy 

 situations. Pears are very much esteemed, and vary very much 

 in taste as well as in form; their juice by fermentation yields a 

 liquor very similar to cider, called perry. 



109. The plum, apricot, peach, and cherry, differ from the 

 preceding in the structure of their fruit, which is a fleshy, round 



105. In what manner are the Mimosae valuable to us ? 



106. What are the characters of the family of Rosa'ceae? What plants 

 are included in this family ? 



107. What are the characters of the apple tree ? What is cider ? 



108. What is perry? 



109. What are prunes ? 



