THE WHITE-BEAM. 

 Pyrus aria. 



The White-Beam^ (or White-tree), though closely allied 

 to the Mountain Ash, and consequently bearing a strong 

 resemblance to it as to flower and fruit, is nevertheless very 

 unlike it in general character and appearance. It is a 

 native of the same countries, with the exception of North 

 America, preferring chalky or limestone soils, where it 

 frequently attains the height of thirty or forty feet. The 

 trunk is straight and smooth, and the young shoots are 



1 "Beam," Saxon for "tree." So, in German, "Mehl-baum" 

 means literally "Meal-tree," from the remarkably white and mealy 

 appearance of the nnder-side of its leaves. 



