IDENTIFICATION OF PEAR VARIETIES 5 



For example, Early Seckel usually does not grow so tall as Seckel, nor Seckel so 

 tall as Worden Seckel. Often a difference in the average stature of trees in a 

 nursery row is the first indication of a varietal mixture. 



Some varieties such as Gorham are inclined to be more branchy than others 

 even as one-year trees (whips). Man\- varieties usuallj- grow few lateral or side 

 branches until the second jear following budding unless such growths are forced 

 because of some injury to the terminal by insect damage, accidental breakage, 

 or summer pruning. The degree of lateral branching the first year from the bud 

 varies from year to year with a single ^'ariety, depending, probably, on environ- 

 mental conditions. 



Figue 1. Type of Growth. 



1. VERMONT BEAUTY — Not leafy 



2. WILDER — Leafy 



3. EWART — Crooked grower 



Certain shoot characteristics are important (Figure 2.) The diameter or stoutness 

 of shoots may be a valuable identifying character. Shoots vary from stout as in 

 Clapp Favorite to slender as in Bantam. The degree of zigzag, or alternate change 

 in direction of growth at the nodes, is of some significance. Shoots may be 

 straight as in Lawrence to distinctly zigzag as in Bantam. The length of the 

 internodes, spaces between buds along shoots, may var>' from short as in Law- 

 rence to rather long as in Bantam. 



The lenticels on shoots are particularly valuable. With different varieties, 

 lenticels vary in number, size, prominence (whether flush or raised), shape, color, 

 and conspicuousness (Figure 3). They may vary from very numerous as in Gar- 

 ber, through medium in number as in many varieties, to rather few as in Gorham; 

 from large as in Bosc to small as in Flemish Beauty; from flush as in Flemish 

 Beauty to raised (rough to the touch) as in Bosc; from usually round as in Comice 

 to often elongated as in Clapp Favorite; from russet colored as in many varieties 

 such as Bartlett to white as in Garber; and from inconspicuous as in Comice 

 and Bartlett to very conspicuous as in Bosc and Garber. With some varieties, 

 the lenticels are very distinct in outline as in Vermont Beauty; in others they are 

 rather indistinct in outline as in Dana Hovey. It should be borne in mind that 

 with almost all varieties the shoot lenticels are more elongated and smaller near 



