458 MINNESOTA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



7. Conocarpa. The fruits are conical, with a broad base tapering 

 at the apex, five-eighths inch in Jength, ribbed, blood red when 

 ripe. 



8. Edulis. Very similar to the variety cerasiforznis; the fruit' 

 however, is of a more pleasant flavor. It is the best variety for pre- 

 serves. 



9. Costata. Fruit oblate round, three-quarters inch in breadth, 

 one-half inch in length, ribbed, blood red when ripe. 



10. Saaguinea. Similar to the preceding variety; the fruits are, 

 however, not ribbed. 



11. Lutea. Fruits the same as that of variety o-eau2i3a, but, when 

 ripe, yellow with red cheek. 



12. Ohconoidea. The fruits have a narrow base, are obconical, 

 ribbed, five-eighths inch in breadth. When ripe, orange yellow 

 with red tracing. 



PYRUS PRUNIFOLIA, WILLD. 



A tree of medium size, which attains a height of up to thirty feet, 

 and endures the severest frosts. The leaves are oval or broadly 

 oval, obtusely 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 Pj^rus 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 pub- 

 escence. The calyx segments are persistent in the basin of the ripe 

 fruit ; this characteristic 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. Pj-rus prunifolia is 

 one of our trees with beautiful 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 decor- 

 ated 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 

 numbers. 



The varieties are as follows : 



1. Suaveolens. Large flowers, reddish externally, fragrant; on 

 which account this tree is adapted for gardens. 



2. Microcarpa. Fruits small, oval, red at maturity. 



3. OvifOTznis. Fruits ovate, when ripe yellow with red tracing. 



4. Conocarpa. 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, seven-eighths inch in 

 length, inch and one-eighth in breadth. 



