3 BRITISH POMOLOGY, ETC. 



of the styles entirely naked and exposed. The styles ii 

 the apple "are united at their base into one body, and ar( 

 generally villous in that part where they adhere to eacl 

 other : in the pear, however, they are separate at thai 

 base. But although the apple and pear very much resembl( 

 each other in their botanical characters, they diflfer ver 

 materially in their form, cellular tissue, and specific gravity 

 Apples have always the base umbellicate, or hollowed wit! 

 a deep cavity, in which the stalk is inserted, and are 

 generally spherical. The pear, on the other hand, is 

 elongated towards the stalk, and is generally of a pyramida 

 shape, or nearly so. The cellular tissue of the apple 

 according to the microscopical observations of Turpin, ii 

 composed of a great number of agglomerated, distinct 

 vesicles, each existing independent of the other, varying 

 in size in the same fruit, and, in general, larger, as th( 

 apple is large and light. These vesicles are colorless anc 

 transparent, and vary in their form according to the wani 

 of space requisite for their individual development. Thei 

 contain in greater or less abundance, a sugary, acid, oi 

 bitter juice, which is perceivable in the different varieties 

 The cellular tissue of the apple possesses no stony con 

 cretions, and its specific gravity is greater than that of th( 

 pear ; so much so, that by taking a cube of each, of equa 

 size, and throwing them into a vessel of water, that of thf 

 apple will float, while that of the pear will sink. In its 

 natural or wild state the apple tree is of a small si2e, attaining 

 generally about twenty feet in height, of a crooked habi 

 of growth, with small, harsh, and austere fruit, and smal 

 thin leaves. But when improved by cultivation, it losei 

 much of its original form, assumes a more free and luxu 

 riant growth, with larger, thicker, and more downy leaves 

 and produces fruit distinguished for its size, color, an( 

 richness of flavor. 



Some authors have ascribed the introduction of the appli 

 into this country to the Romans, and others to the Noi 

 mans ; in both cases, however, without any evidence o 

 well grounded authority. Mr. Loudon says, " The appl 

 was, in all probability, introduced into Britain by tb 

 Romans, as well as the pear ; and like that fruit, perhaps 

 re-introduced by the heads of religious houses on thei 



