MISCELLANEOUS PAPERS. 
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pointed, serrate. The petiole is usually longer than half the leaf, when young 
the petiole, as well as the leaf, slightly pubescent, later quite smooth. The 
leaves are light green, yet not so shining as those of Pyrus baccata. The 
leaves are sharply saw-toothed, the serrations short and sharply pointed. The 
flowers are large, white, sometimes with reddish cast, borne in great numbers 
on the ends of the short side shoots. The one-colored slender flower stalks 
are united in close clusters. The inner side of the calyx and the lower part 
of the pistil are usually covered with white pubescence. The calyx segments 
are presistent in the basin of the ripe fruit. This caracteristic distinguishes 
Pyrus prunifolia from Pyrus baccata. The slender fruit stems are longer than 
the ripe fruit and are set in the depression on the base of the fruit [cavity]. 
The flavor of the fruit is sour, somewhat bitter; there are, however, varieties 
with milder flavor; these varieties are in all cases the most resistant of our 
hardier Russian apple trees. Pyrus prunifolia is one of our trees with beau- 
tiful blossoms;. at the end of May and the beginning of June this tree is 
covered with handsome white and reddish flowers. The form of the fruits is 
much varied; some of them are so beautiful that as they ripen in autumn the 
tree is decorated for the second time. These fruits are cherry-shaped, from 
one-half to one and one-half inches long, and cover the tree in immense num- 
bers. 
The varieties are as follows: 
1. Suaveoleiis. Large flowers, red dish externally, fragrant, on which ac- 
count this tree is adapted for gardens. 
2. Mici'ocarpa. Fruits small, oval, red at maturity. 
3. Oviformis. Fruits ovate, when ripe yellow with red tracing. Figured 
in Regel’s Gartenflora, p. 364, fig. II. Russ. Pom. I, fig. h. 
4. Gonocarpa. Fruits conical, with oval base, when ripe green with red 
on the sunny side. 
5. Intermedia. The fruits are flattened— spherical, ribbed, yellow when ripe, 
blood red on the sunny side, 7-8 inch in length, 1 1-8 inches in breadth. 
Figured in Gartenflora, p. 364, fig. 9. Russ. Pom. I, fig. d. 
6. Glilorocarpa. Fruits either spherical or flattened — spherical, when ripe, 
green with red on the sunny side. 
7. Xanthocarpa. Fruits roundish-oval, when ripe yellow, 3-4 inch in length, 
less in breadth. 
8. Calvillea. Fruits oval or nearly spherical, ribbed, when ripe scarlet- 
red, about one inch in length and breadth. In autumn this variety is very 
handsome. The fruits are used for preserving; they are very similar to P. 
baccata cerasifera, but are distinguished by the fact that the calyx segments 
do not- fall off from the ripe friut. 
Synonym. P. cerasifera Tausich var calvillea. Figured in Gartenflora, 
p. 364, fig. 8. Russ. Pom. I, fig. c. 
9. Macrocarpa. The fruits are one inch in length and breadth, nearly 
spherical, ribbed, when ripe green. Figured in Gartenflora, p. 364, fig. 10. 
Rus. Pom. I, fig. i. 
10. Striata. Fruits oval, one inch in length, when ripe yellow wfith dark 
red stripes. 
Pyrus prunifolia flourishes in southeast Russia and in southern Siberia. It 
is propagated from seed. The varieties preserve their characteristics only 
when grafted. 
Yery similar is Pyrus spectabilis Ait. from China; this grows, however, usu- 
ally in bush form and is covered every year with abundant reddish blossoms. 
