34 



MASS. EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETIN 421 



Variety Comparisons* 



From the standpoint of separating possible mixtures in a nursery row or of 

 determining whether a row is correctly labeled, it is \ery desirable to know the 

 important differences between pear varieties which are similar or likely to be 

 mixed. Instead of critically comparing the newer varieties with one another, 

 it seemed better in most cases to compare each with an important familiar vari- 

 ety with which it has some resemblance. In the following selected varietal 

 comparisons, several of them between varieties which have been found mixed in 

 commercial nurseries, some of the more signficant differences are given. 



1. Cayuga 



Hahit Upright 



Height Moderately tall 



Bark {2-year) Medium brown 



Leaf 



Shape Long oval to elliptic 



Folding Flat to broad U 



Color Moderateh' light to 



medium green 



Serrations Medium to coarse, 



shallow, dull serrate 



Bartlett 



Upright-spreading 



Medium 



Medium \ ellowish brown 



Oval 



Usually medium but 



occasionally narrow U 

 Dark yellowish green 



Fine, moderately shallow, 

 serrate 



2. Caywood 



Bark {2-year) Purplish brown 



{\-year) Purplish red to reddish 



brown 

 Leaf 



Folding Flat to broad U or V 



Surface Rather dull 



Color Medium green 



Serrations Moderately coarse 



Sheldon 



Light to medium brown 

 Yellowish brown 



Broad to medium V 

 Moderately semi-glossy 

 Light yellowish green 

 Mostly medium 



3. Clapp Favorite Flemish Beauty 



Height Medium to moderately Medium 



tall 



Shoots Stout Slender 



Bark {2-year) Reddish brown Rather dark brown, some- 

 what gravish 



{\-year) Red Reddish brown 



Lenticels Few, often elongated Moderately few 



*The technical descriptive terms used here are defined and 'or illustrated in the section "How 

 Pear Varieties Differ," pages 4-17. 



