42 MASS. EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETIN 421 



Variety Key 



A variety key is strictly an arbitrary classification of varieties based on a few 

 selected characteristics and arranged in such a way that a variety may be identi- 

 fied rather quickly by following through the key. However, such a key is far 

 from infallible since it is based on characteristics that exhibit natural variation, 

 as for example, color and size. Furthermore, with pears it has seemed to be 

 more difficult to construct a workable key than with some other fruits. The 

 following key is based on plant characters of healthy and vigorous one- and 

 two-year-old nursery trees as the>- appeared in July and early August. Forty- 

 one varieties are included. 



KEY TO SOME PEAR VARIETIES 



A Leaf usually ovate or oval to ovate 



B One-year bark light reddish Wilder 



BB One-year bark greenish to brownish 



C Lenticels small, flush Worden Seckel 



CC Lenticels medium to large, at least somewhat raised 



D Lateral veins distinctly raised, growing tips green Willard 



DD Lateral veins not distinctly raised, growing tips 

 reddish tinged 



E Leaf flat to broad U-folded Bosc 



EE Leaf medium U-folded Phelps 



AA Leaf usually oval or roundish oval 



B One-year bark more or less purplish 



C Leaf small, usually narrow U-folded, serrations rather coarse. . .Louise 

 CC Leaf large, usually broad Ll-folded, serrations moderately fine. .Patten 

 BB One-year bark essentially red or reddish brown 



C Serrations setose serrate, prominent Bantam 



CC Serrations serrate or dull serrate 



D Leaf surface dull Clairgeau 



DD Leaf surface at least semi-glossy 



E Growing tips green, shoots often fasciated Early Seckel 



EE Growing tips reddish tinged, shoots not fasciated 



F Shoots stout, leaf serrations fine Clapp Favorite 



FF Shoots moderately slender, serrations 



coarse Clyde 



BBB One-year bark greenish brown tinged with red 



C Shoot pubescence rusty brown Kieffer 



CC Shoot pubescence white or gray 



D Leaf semi-glossy, saucer-folded Gorham 



DD Leaf distinctly glossy, broad V- to reverse-saucer- 

 folded Seckel 



BBBB One-year bark usually greenish brown or yellowish brown 



C Upper leaf surface pubescent and finely buUate "False Bosc" 



CC Upper leaf surface not pubescent or finely buUate 



D Leaf broad V- to reverse saucer-folded, glossy Dumont 



DD Leaf broad U-folded, not more than semi-glossy Ovid 



DDD Leaf medium to narrow U-folded, not more than 

 semi-glossy 



E Serrations very shallow, dull serrate, very 



often absent, lateral veins raised Covert 



EE Serrations serrate and almost always evident, 

 lateral veins not raised 

 F Lenticels flush 



G Lenticels whitish, rather 



conspicuous Lawrence 



GG Lenticels russet, inconspicuous Bartlett 



FF Lenticels moderately raised Waite 



