20S PYRUS >1AIA'S 



disseminated by l)irils. The largest trees at tlie latter place are about thirty feet 

 in lieii^ht, and are saiil to j)r('serve all the distinctive features of the species or 

 race. 'I'he Iravrs are broadiv ovate, rounded at the liase. subauL'ulati'. smooth 

 on the uj)j)er surl'aee, and whm I'ully devr'loped, are distinctly tooibftl. \\ hile 

 younsr. they have a bitter, and slightly aromatic taste; whence Michaux thinks 

 that, with the addition of sugar, they would m;il<' an agreeable tea. The llow- 

 ers. whirh put forth m March. April, and May. are white at lirst. and gradually 

 chaime to a puri)lish hue before they tall. 'IMiey are very large, and occur in 

 corymbs, witli smooth peduncles; and. during the blooming season, they per- 

 fume ilu^ whole air with the scent of violets. The fruit is tlatly orbiculate. from 

 an inch to an inch and a half in diameter, of a yellowish-green when ri])e. which 

 occurs in Sej)tember, and gradually becomes more yellow, and somewhat trans- 

 lucent, with age. It is of a tirm texture, extremely acid, and has sometimes 

 been employed in the niainifacturc of cider, and in the making of preserves, with 

 the addition of sugar equivalent to its own weight. ^Successful experiments have 

 beeu made of uniting this tree, by grafting and budding, with the common apple; 

 but the time is so long in bringing it to perfection, that no particular advantage 

 can be derived from such a union. It has been suggested, however, that new 

 and valuable varieties might be obtained from seeds produced by fertilizing the 

 flowers with the pollen of the vigorous-growing pippins, or those of the Siberian 

 crabs. Setting aside all other considerations, this tree, from the beautiful char- 

 acter of its leaves, the fragrance of its blossoms, together with the lateness of 

 their appearance, and the deep-green, and depressed form of its fruit, is a most 

 desirable object of cultiu-e, and no shrubbery should be without it. 



3. P. M. ANGUSTiFOLiA. Nun'ow-leaved Amei^ican Ciab Apple-tree; Pynts 

 an^ustifolla^ of De Candolle, Torrey and Gray, Loudon, and otliers. This 

 variety is also a native of North America, is found from Pennsylvania to Louis- 

 iana ; flowers in March and April ; and differs from the preceding race, in having 

 narrower leaves, much smaller and narrower fruit, lead-coloured and speckled 

 branches, and in being sub-evergreen, which last circumstance, together with 

 its sweet-scented flowers, entitles it to a place in collections. 



4. P. M. PRUNiFOLiA. 77^6 Pliim-leavcd Apple-tree or Siberian Crab; Pyims 

 prunifolia^ of De Candolle and Loudon, a native of Siberia ; was introduced into 

 Britain in 1758 ; and, according to Mr. Knight, some of the finest varieties raised by 

 him were produced from cultivated apples fecundated with the blossoms of this tree. 

 He found that the progeny formed more hardy trees than any other kinds, and that 

 they produced earlier and more highly flavoured fruit. The leaves are ovate, 

 acuminate, serrated, and glabrous ; the peduncles pubescent ; the tube of the 

 calyx glabrous ; the styles woolly at the base, and twice as long as the stamens. 

 The fruit is sub-globose, of a yellowish colour, and of an austere taste. 



5. P. M. BACCATA. The Berry-Hke-fruitecl Apph-tres on Siberian Crab ; Pyrvs 

 baccata, of De Candolle and Loudon, native of Siberia and Dahuria, and only 

 diflers from the preceding sort in not having a persistent calyx. From this vari- 

 ety originated the cultivated "Cherry Crab," a spreading tree, with drooping 

 branches, bearing an abundance of fruit, about the size and colour of a large 

 cherry. 



6. P. M. DioicA. The Dioecioiis-sexed Apple-tree ; Pyn/5 rf/oica, of De Candolle 

 and Loudon, occasionally cultivated in the gardens of Europe. Its leaves are 

 oval, serrated, and tomentose beneath ; the flowers, in many instances, solitary ; 

 the sexes dioecious by defect; the calyx tomentose; the petals linear, of the 

 length of the sepals; and the styles are glabrous. 



7. P. M. ASTRACANiCA. The Astrachau Apple-tree; Pyrns astraca7iica, of De 

 Candolle and Loudon. This form is said to be indigenous about Astrachan. Its 

 leaves are oval-oblong, acute, partially doubly serrated, pale beneath, where the 



