126 DESCRIPTIVE BOTANY. 



EtijTnology. — The specific name of this tree signifies ordinary or common, 

 from the Latin word communis. 



The varieties are named usually to indicate some quality of the fruit, or in 

 honor of some person, or they take the name of the places whence they 

 originate. 



History. — The pear is a native of Europe. It is spoken of by Homer, w^ho 

 says it was one of the trees in the garden of Laertes, the father of Ulysses. 



Pliny also mentions several varieties growing about Rome. There is good 

 authority for believing that the Romans cultivated about thirty -six varieties ; 

 and it is believed that they took their choice varieties to England after the 

 middle of the first century, during the administration of Agricola. It could not 

 have been largely cultivated, and was no doubt confined to the gardens of the 

 wealthy for a long time ; for, when spoken of, reference is made to its delicacy. 

 A record is preserved that in the days of Henry VHI. twopence was awarded 

 an old woman for presenting pears to the king. During the sixteenth cen- 

 tury much attention was paid to its cultivation. Near the end of the sixteentli 

 century Gerard published his herbal, in which he says that the number and 

 sorts of pears and apples would require a book to hold their description. 



The best pears have originated in France and Belgium, so that nurserymen 

 have come to regard Belgium as the Eden of this fruit. 



There are some remarkable pear-trees whose size and age may be mentioned 

 in this connection. Several on the continent of Europe are known to be 400 

 years old, but the most Avonderful pear-tree is one in Hertfordshire, England, 

 from which were made in one year fifteen hogsheads of perry. In 1805 it 

 covered more than half an acre of laud ; its branches had bent to the ground, 

 taken root, and thrown up shoots. By favoring this habit, a grove of trees 

 all connected has been produced. A very remarkable pear-tree is now growing 

 in Indiana, about ten miles north of Vincennes. It was planted by Mrs. Ockle- 

 tree about the year 1805. The circumference of this tree a foot above the 

 ground is twelve feet, or about four feet in diameter. In 1834 it bore 184 

 bushels of pears, and in 1840 the yield was 140 bushels. The fruit is of large 

 size, of good flavor, and ripens in early autumn. It bore its first crop in 1820, 

 and has borne a crop every year since. 



The old Stuyvesant pear-tree, wdiich was planted by Peter Stu3^vesant, one 

 of the Dutch governors of the New Netherlands, on his farm in the city ol 

 NeAv York about the year 1645, was blown down in 1867, making it about 

 two hundred and twenty years old. It stood on the edge of the sidewalk in 

 Third Avenue on the corner of Thirteentli Street. 



When the pear was first used for fruit or brought under cultivation is not 

 known ; it has been stated that there is evidence that it was in use in the days 

 of the lake-dwellers of Switzerland, and it is represented in the pictures of 

 Pompeii. 



Use. — The apple is without doubt the most important fruit of the tem- 

 perate zone, on account of the great variety of forms in Avhich it may be pre- 

 pared as an article of food, and the ease with w^hich it may be preserved ; bul 

 for delicacy of flavor, the pear takes the precedence. It is more highly valued 

 as a dessert than any other fruit, and is found upon the tables of the wealthy 

 throughout its season. The favorite mode of use is without cooking or any 

 other preparation. 



It moreover constitutes one of the most delicate preserves, either as a candied 

 or brandied fruit. It cooks well as a preserve or a baked food ; but on account 

 of its lack of a pungent acid it is not suitable for pies, puddings, or sauces. 



