40 FLOWERS AND FRUITS. 



The germs of the Pear tree have a distinguishing characteristic, 

 differing from the Apple in a much less disposition to emit 

 suckers; that is when obstructed or bruised the irritation is less 

 likely to be sufficient to develope the embryo and cause the 

 sprouting of a fresh branch. It lives much longer than the Apple. 

 The good pear is known by its tender and liquifying pulp, melting 

 as it were in the mouth, plenty of juice and that of a sweet, slightly 

 spicy, flavor; not too much of this last, as that would make it as 

 it often does, quite unpleasant; the crisp and breaking pear is 

 another fine variety. 



The generic name is derived from the Celtic, from which the 

 Latins adopted it; some consider the meaning of its original 

 derivation to be fire, others dispute this very strongly. The specific 

 name means common, and is of course unimportant. There are 

 few tribes of plants that bear cultivation as well as this, indeed 

 without it, it would be almost valueless ; but properly grafted and 

 well trained, the gardener receives a rich return for all his labors. 

 There are few species of Pears, but their varieties amply com- 

 pensate for this, being almost innumerable. The Romans had 

 only thirty-six varieties of the Pear, but in modern days, by some 

 experiments, two gentlemen in France, produced over eight 

 hundred varieties worth cultivation. 



Pears to our knowledge have no medical properties, being used 

 principally for the table. The timber is valuable, heavy, compact, 

 and close grained, taking a fine polish, and when stained black, 

 resembling ebony ; it is consequently much employed in the manu- 

 facture of tool handles, and sometimes boxes. When we mention 

 that the leaves will give a good yellow dye, we have enumerated 

 all its properties. It is the emblem of COMFORT. 



