Pyrus 1565 



flower profusely, and in some years produce abundance of fruit. The largest sound 

 tree that I measured here was over 50 ft. high and 10 ft. in girth. 



In Scotland the pear rarely attains a great size ; and I have seen none which 

 were very noteworthy ; but in the Old and Remarkable Trees of Scotland (p. 244), the 

 Rev. R. Bremner describes a Chaumontel pear tree in the minister's garden at Banff, 

 which was reported to be one hundred and fifty years old, and was 42 ft. by 9 ft. 

 and 150 ft. round the branches. 



Walker 1 measured in 1799 a tree at Restalrig, near Edinburgh, which was 12 

 ft. in girth at 2\ ft. from the ground, above which point it began to branch. This 

 was a sort of early pear, called the " Golden Knap," which he considered to be the 

 largest and most durable of any of the kinds of pear ; and recommended it to be 

 raised from seeds and planted out without being grafted, as these wildings, as they 

 are called, form the most vigorous and largest trees, and should be chosen as stocks 

 for grafting. The fruit, though often scarcely edible, is useful in making perry. 



Hunter 2 mentions an orchard pear tree at Gourdie Hill near Perth, which was 

 no less than 65 ft. by 10 ft., but we do not know if either of these is still living. 



Timber 



It seems strange that a wood, having such valuable qualities as the pear, 

 should be practically neglected in this country. It is so hard, fine-grained, and 

 compact that it is one of the very best woods for cogs, wood-screws, and tool-handles. 

 It takes dye so well that when stained black it is difficult to distinguish from ebony, 

 and for carving it is one of the finest hardwoods known. 8 At Windsor Castle there 

 is a very beautiful panel carved in high relief from pear wood. 



Like many hardwoods it is slow and difficult to season, and unless thoroughly 

 dry is liable to warp and crack badly. When trees of sufficient size can be procured, 

 it is better, in order to avoid warping, to cut the boards on the quarter ; and as it 

 takes a fine polish and has a rich pinkish brown colour, it might be used for chair and 

 cabinet-making with good effect. But the greater part of the old pear trees which 

 are grown in the Severn valley are only used for firewood, and are said to burn 

 with a very hot and slow flame. (H. J. E.) 



1 Essays on Nat. Hist. 84 (1812). 2 Woods and Forests of Perthshire, 503 (1883). 



3 Drawing squares and curves are often made of pear wood. 



