CLASSIPICATIOiN. 75 



time of the Downings, wlien artificial systems, alphabetical, 

 and seasonal classifications, were considered adequate. Yarie- 

 ties of pears are probably more distinct than sorts of any other 

 of our common fruits and the need of arranging them sys- 

 tematically has not been strongly felt. 



In Europe where the pear is much more commonly grown 

 than here, several attempts have been made to classify them. 

 Probably that of Lucas, a German pomologist, is the most 

 thorough and the most pretentious of the several foreign systems. 

 It is, however, as are all the others, practically worthless to 

 Americans, the varieties, groups, types, and terms being foreign 

 to us even when translated. All such systems have value for 

 us of course, in that they are suggestive. 



We can at present suggest no better classification for pears 

 than the wholly artificial expedient used in all our present 

 fruit books of dividing them first according to season and then 

 in accordance with their forms. The simple scheme generally 

 used follows the species. 



P. communis, Linn. Commoit Peak. — A smooth tree, with 

 branches inclined to be thorny, strong upright growth, living 

 to great age; ovate leaves with small, obtuse teeth, with a 

 prominent point, veiny, hard in texture; pure white flowers, 

 the anthers purple, borne in umbel-like clusters; calyx per- 

 sistent; fruit quite various under cultivation; native of south- 

 ern Europe and Asia where it has been cultivated from earliest 

 times. 



P. Sinensis, Lindl. Japait or Sawd Peab. — ^A stronger 

 grower than the last, with larger dark leaves which are very 

 sharply toothed; strong thick shoots, white or grayish when 

 young; ti.ower large white, appearing before leaves; tough. 



