The Chinese Pear 



The Oriental pears have not the characteristic shape 

 oj the European pear. The latter was presumably modified 

 in shape through selection at a comparatively recent period. It is 

 supposed that the original home of the pear was Central Asia, 

 and that the fruit was carried into Europe in prehistoric 

 times. The pear is characterized by having a 

 fibrous or woody deposit in the skin, indi- 

 cated by the dotted appearance oj 

 this Oriental specimen. 



