PLANTS. 269 



The French excel in the culture of the pear. The fruit 

 is sweeter than that of the apple ; it is esteemed equal 

 with the apple for usefulness, and in one respect superior. 

 Being more juicy and containing more sugar, it is used 

 for making the wine called Perry ; nevertheless, although 

 the flavor is superior to that of cider made from the 

 juice of the apple, the wine does not keep near so well. 

 The wood is used by cabinet makers and turners, h. 



The Quince Tree (Pyrus cydonia), Tourne. Named 

 for Cydonia, a town in the island of Crete, whence 

 it was brought and transplanted in Europe. Leaves 

 oval ; under surface downy ; flowers white, tinged with 

 purple, stand singly at the end of the short twigs ; fruit 

 large, lengthened at base, clothed with a soft down or 

 wool, yellow when ripe ; resembles a pear more than an 

 apple. It is very rough to the taste, hard and astringent 

 when eaten raw ; the odor is extremely pleasant, and as 

 the fruit loses all its harshness when boiled, quinces are 

 much estesmed for jellies and preserves. The seeds are 

 enclosed in a mucilaginous envelope, which dissolves 

 readily in warm water. This mucilage is used in many 

 ways, and considered equal to Gum Arabic. T 2. 



TWENTY-EIGHTH FAMILY. POMEGRANATE PDNICA, 

 so called from Carthage, where it was first transplanted. 

 Fruit many-celled ; leaves deciduous, without the mar- 

 ginal vein. 



Pomegranate (P. Granatum), arborescent ; leaves 

 lanceolate, standing opposite, smooth, entire ; flowers on 

 short foot-stalks, are scarlet, large, and make a fine ap- 

 pearance ; the fruit, about the size and form of a large 

 apple, is highly ornamental and of a fine flavor. The 

 rind hard and leather-like, serves to protect numerous 

 seeds, which, of oblong shape, red and glossy, sometimes 



