THE SERVICE TREE. 375 
valuable shoots for hoops, crates, and similar purposes, and the 
bark is possessed of a valuable tanning principle. The timber 
is strong and elastic ; and, like that of all the species of the 
genus, it is closely grained, susceptible of a fine polish, and 
being well adapted for being stained of any colour, it is 
valued by the wheelwright, and for articles of turnery, tool- 
handles, etc. 
The species consists of many cultivated varieties, all of which 
are very ornamental, particularly the weeping mountain ash, 
which, when grafted on the top of the common mountain ash, 
or on that of the service tree, forms one of the most elegant 
pendant trees in cultivation. 
The yellow-berried variety is also very conspicuous. The 
others differ from the common tree chiefly in yielding both 
larger foliage and fruit, but none of the kinds attain the 
ordinary size of timber trees. All of the sorts yield seeds, 
but their peculiarities are only accurately multiplied by 
layers or by budding or grafting, and the common tree is 
generally used as the stock. 
All the kinds of pears in cultivation will grow on the moun- 
tain ash, but grafted on this stock, though they readily bear 
fruit for a few years, yet they become very stunted ; the stock 
seldom swells in growth equal to the graft, and the union is 
neither perfect nor permanent. 
Service Tree—Pyrus Aria (Ehrhart), or White Bean Tree. 
—tThis species, which comprehends a great many varieties, is 
found indigenous on the hilly districts throughout Europe. 
Its stature is very diversified, according to the soil and situa- 
tion which it occupies, and, cultivated under the most favour- 
able circumstances, it seldom attains to the height of forty feet. 
It grows with great rapidity for the first six or eight years of 
its age, frequently attaining the height of twelve or sixteen 
feet in that time, after which it becomes bushy, when the pro- 
gress of its upward growth becomes very slow. It is a hardy 
tree, of great duration, and in every respect resembles the 
mountain ash, except that its leaves are entire, light green 
