VARIETIES OF CRABS FOR MINNESOTA. 435 



the principal of which are the Pyrus baccata (Siberian) and Pyrus 

 malus, our native crab, common in America and Europe. The latter 

 is the origin of our common luscious apples of today, their char- 

 acteristics being changed by cultivation, selection and care. 



Of the real crabs I do not think I can recommend any of them 

 for cultivation in Minnesota, for their small size and sour crabbed 

 taste. So I will turn my attention to their near relatives, to what 

 we call hybrids. Of these there are many, we may say hundreds 

 of them. But I will mention only a few of them that have been 

 profitable to me or my friends. 



The first I will mention is the Montreal Wax. The tree is a 

 strong, thrifty grower, with spreading top ; does not blight ; very 

 prolific each alternate year ; fruit about the size of Transcendent ; 

 bright red in color when ripe and is very salable in the market. I 

 have two trees, and they have brought me more money than any 

 other two trees I have on my place. They produce bienniallyabout 

 forty bushels, and at least three-fourths are marketable. 



The Early Strawberry I would recommend setting out a few 

 trees of for one's own use. It is good when first ripe but soon be- 

 comes mealy and soon decays. The tree is a handsome grower and 

 very prolific ; blights some ; fruit about size of Transcendent. 



The Florence is a first rate crab apple. The trees blight but 

 little and bear very prolifically, especially each alternate year, of 

 very beautiful red fruit that sells well in the market. I call it one 

 of the best. 



The Martha is also number one, but with me it is not as prolific 

 as the Florence. The fruit is larger and very smooth and beautiful, 

 but it does not stand our late spring frosts as well as Florence. My 

 trees were full of bloom last spring, but I had no fruit. 



Brier Sweet is a hybrid that is a good cooker ; is excellent 

 for sweet pickles ; a little larger than Transcendent ; it bears well, 

 is very prolific each alternate year ; is not subject to blight ; is a 

 thrifty growing tree. 



The Sweet Russet is another excellent hybrid, very sweet and 

 good to eat out of hand. The tree is a thrifty, upright grower and 

 nearly free from blight. 



Orange crab, for home use, we think to be a valuable apple. 

 It is, as its name indicates, of an orange color ; does not sell well in 

 the market on account of its color ; but for home use, especially for 

 canning, we call it No. i, as it will retain its shape well after being 

 cooked. My people pare them and then halve them and dig out the 

 core, cook and can them. They show well in the cans. Some think 



