XXVI. ROSA^CEJE : py'^rus. 443 



its buds, which are smooth and green, instead of being downy and black ; in 

 the beginning of summer, by its leaflets being broader, downy above, and also 

 beneath ; and, in autunm, by its pear or apple shaped fruit, which is four or 

 five times the size of that of F. aucuparia, and of a dull greenish brown 

 colour. It is said to be 30 years before it comes into a bearing state when it 

 is raised fi"om the seed ; but, when scions from fruit-bearing trees are grafted on 

 seedling plants, or on the mountain ash, they come into bearing in a few years 

 as in the case of other fruit trees. (See Gard. Mag., iv. p. 487.) The wood 

 of the true service is the hardest and the heaviest of all the indigenous woods, 

 of Europe. It weighs, when dry, no less than 72 lb. 2 oz. per cubic foot. 

 It has a compact fine grain, a reddish tinge, and takes a very high polish ; but 

 it must not be employed until it is thoroughly seasoned, as otherwise it is apt to 

 twist and split. It is much sought after in France, by millwrights, for making 

 cogs to wheels, rollers, cylinders, blocks and pulleys, spindles and axles ; and 

 for all those parts of machines which are subject to much friction, and re- 

 quire great strength and durabihty. In France, it is preferred to all other 

 kinds of wood for making the screws to wine-presses. In France, the fruit, 

 when beginning to decay, is brought to table ; though it is not highly prized, 

 and is more frequently eaten by the poor than the rich. In Britain, the tree 

 is chiefly to be recommended as one of ornament and rarity. A good, free, 

 deep, dry soil, and a sheltered situation, are essential, wherever it is at- 

 tempted tOjgrow this tree in Britain. From the specimens in the neigiibour- 

 hood of London, it does not appear to suffer from the climate, after it has 

 been five or six years planted ; but it is rather difficult to establish young 

 plants. Seeds may be procured in abundance from France ; and from them 

 stocks may be raised on which the best fruit-bearing varieties may be grafted. 

 The true service may also be grafted on the pear, the mountain ash, the haw- 

 thorn, and other allied species. The graft should be made close to the 

 ground, or even under it, on the root ; and care should be taken to retanl 

 the scion previously to grafting it, in order that the stock may be somewhat 

 in advance of it. On the whole, the operation requires to be performed with 

 the greatest care ; because this is one of the most difRcult of all non-resinous 

 trees to graft successfully. The plants at Messrs. Loddiges's ripen fruit every 

 year, from the seeds of which numerous young plants have been raised. 



"i^ 33. P. LANUGiNo^SA Bec. The woolly-leaved Service Tree. 



Identification. Dec. Prod., 2. p. 637. ; Don's Mill., 2. p. 646. 



S!/nv7ii/mcs. P. hybrida lanugiubsa Hort. ; Sorbus lanuginbsa Kit. in Litt., and Lodd. Cat. 

 Engravings. The plate of this species in Arb. Brit., 1st edit., vol. vi. ; and ovLtJig. 793. from a tree 

 in the Horticultural Society's Garden. 



Spec. Char., Sfc. Buds woolly. Leaflets serrated, woolly beneath. Petiole 

 woolly. Pome globose. {Dec. Prod.) A fastigiate tree of the middle 

 size. A hybrid, when and whence originated is uncertain. Height 20 ft. to 

 30 ft. Flowers white; May. Fruit small, like that of the mountain ash, 

 but seldom coming to maturity. 



The trees of this species in Loddiges's arboretum, and in the Horticultural 

 Society's Garden, are very distinct from any other sort, and appear to be 

 hybrids between P. pinnatifida, or perhaps P. iSorbus, and the common moun- 

 tain ash. The general form of the tree is fastigiate, with numerous parallel, 

 rigid, upright shoots. The flowers and fruit resemble those of the mountain 

 ash, but are smaller : the former are frequently abortive ; and the latter, when 

 It is produced, is generally without seeds. It is a robust, hardy, vigorous- 

 growing tree, which comes early into leaf, and is well deserving of a place in 

 collections. This species, and all the others belonging to the section /Sorbus, 

 graft readily on the common hawthorn ; and, as they make very handsome, small, 

 round-headed trees, beautiful at every season of the year, common hedges 

 might be grafted with them at regular distances, and the grafts would grow 

 up, and become handsome standards. 



