THE APPLE AND PEAR GROUP 



617 



Moreover, the substance of the pear has 

 always a gritty admixture, instantly 

 recognised on cutting or biting. 



It will be convenient to 

 regard the next three trees 

 as forming a sub-group. 

 Their flowers, which are 

 small and white, or creamy 

 w h i t e, are borne in 

 branched clusters, in such a 

 way that the flower heads 

 arrange themselves more 

 or less in a single plane. 

 The fruits, popularly 

 spoken of as berries, are 

 like miniature apples, vary- 

 ing in colour according to 

 the kind ; they are grouped 

 in tlie same manner as the 

 flowers. They enclose but 

 few seeds. 



THE WHITE BEAM 



The White Tree — for 

 Beam is the Saxon equiva- 

 lent for tree — is aptly 

 characterised by its name. 

 Seen in its accustomed 

 haunts, on the borders of 

 the wood, or on the slopes 

 skirting the chalk downs, 

 it cannot be overlooked 

 or mistaken, a mound of 

 greeny whiteness in con- 

 spicuous contrast to its 

 surroundings. It varies 

 much in habit from a 

 small shrub to a fairly 

 large single-columned tree ; 

 though it most frequently, 

 perhaps, appears as a considerable bush- 

 like tree, with several strong stems spread- 

 ing upwards from the base. 



The grey bark is at first smooth, having 

 dots arranged in short transverse lines. 

 This eventually becomes rough. The 

 twigs are stout, and shining, brown to 

 ^rey in colour. The buds, spirally 



TWIG OF 

 THE WHITE 

 BEAM. 



arranged, usually stand out Irom the 

 twig. They are protected by scales, 

 which are green with brown margins. 

 The leaves vary in shape, and have a 

 tendency, more or less decided, to divide 

 into pointed sections, with double serra- 

 tions on the margin. When young they 

 are grey. On first emerging from the 

 bud they stand uj:) like small grey, or 

 white, pinnacles. After lull expansion 

 the upper surface becomes gradually a 

 deep shining green, but the lower surface 



LEAVES OF THE WHITE BEAM. 



remains white, being coated as with thick 

 felt. It is this under-surface whiteness, 

 lifted and displayed by the wind, which 

 gives to this tree its distinctive character 

 and name as the White Beam. The 

 calyx and stalks of the flowers are coated 

 with this same white felt. The petals of 

 the flowers are white, as are also the tops 

 of the stamens. The fruit is nearly 

 globular, and its colour is scarlet, often 

 dotted with brown. 



As a shrub the White Beam may be 

 distinguished, with certainty, from the 

 rather similar shrub known as the Way- 

 faring Tree, by the spiral arrangement 

 of its buds and leaves. Those of the 

 Wayfaring Tree are opposite. 



Henry Irving. 



