610 THE PEAR TREE. 



inside the calyx-tube. The White Beam, Apple, Rowan, and Medlar 

 trees afford examples in which the ovary is found below the point 

 at which the petals are inserted ; in the Cherry, the Plum, and the 

 Holly the ovary is above the petals. A curious point may be 

 noticed in the flowers of some trees, where, although a single floret 

 may contain both male and female organs, the latter are developed 

 first, and consequently cross-fertilisation between one tree and another 

 must take place before fruit can be produced. It is said that the 

 flowers of a Pear tree are in a marked degree insusceptible to. the 

 pollen of its stamens, and rely upon the good services of insects 

 in bringing to them the pollen of other trees for their fertilisation. 

 The fruit of the cultivated species varies in size, texture, and colour ; 

 that of the wild .is from one to two inches long, and yellow when 

 ripe. On both wild and cultivated trees the lower and heavier portion 

 of the fruit swells out into a bulbous shape. The fruit, pendent 

 from its weight, is supported singly on a stout rough stalk. 



THE PEAR TREE (Pyrus Communis). 



The Pear tree is not common in the wild state. It bears spines 

 which are not found on the cultivated tree, is smaller in size and 

 has rougher leaves and small inedible fruit. Authorities are disagreed 

 as to whether or not it is a native of England. In the garden the 

 tree reaches an average height of thirty feet ; like the Apple it is 

 sometimes grown on an espalier, and makes a picturesque feature of 

 the kitchen garden. Wild Pear trees live to a considerable age, and 

 some in cultivation are said to have existed for five hundred years. 

 The fruit is used for perry and for preserving, as well as in its 

 fresh state. The wood is hard, heavy, and rather close-grained. 



