CRAB APPLES. 



49' 



are distingueshed from the apple (P. iiialits) 

 by their long slender fruit stalks, often two 

 or three inches in length, by their firm flesh, 

 which never becomes mellow, and by their 

 deciduous calyx, which falls before the ma- 

 turity of the fruit. But this distinct type* 

 of crab is chiefly useful to us fcr cross- 

 ing with more valuable apples, to which 

 their hardiness is thereby imparted in a re- 

 markable degree. 



In this month's issue we give our readers 

 photogravures of four varieties of these hy- 

 brids, which are already widely cultivated in 

 the colder parts of Canada, viz. : Transcend- 

 ent, Hyslop, Orange and Whitney, and we 

 shall be pleased to receive notes concerning 

 their value from correspondents living 'n 

 our northern sections. 



Fisher, in Montana Sta. Rept, 1902, has 

 been testing ten of the hardiest varieties of 

 crabs, and reports that the best were Whit- 

 ney, Transcendent, Hyslop, Orange and 

 Greenwood, the latter of which is not known 

 with us. 



Dr. W^m. Saunders, director of the ex- 

 perimental farms of the Dominion, who is a 

 noted hybridist, has been making praise- 

 worthy efforts in this direction, and has al- 

 ready succeeded in producing several new, 

 varieties of apples which promise to be of 

 especial value in the Northwest Territories. 



Pyrus Baccata. 



In this work Dr. Saunders used seed of 

 the berried crab, Pyrus baccata, imported 

 from St. Petersburg about ten years ago, 

 and raised seedling trees at Brandon and In- 

 dian Head, which have proved perfectly 

 hardy and productive, although the fruit 

 was inferior and about as small as a cherry, 

 (See Fig. 2694 after Dr. Saunders.) 



In 1894 crosses of these seedlings were 



made with Tetofsky, Duchess and 

 Wealthy, and out of a large number of 

 crossbred trees, which varied much in 

 form and size, several have been found 

 worthy of distinction in the Northwest, 

 and all seem to retain the hardine<^s of 

 the crab parentage. We give illustrations 

 from the Doctor's report of two of his hybrid 

 crabs, in order to give our readers some idea 

 of the progress so far in this work. We 

 also attach his descriptions of the same. 



Chakles — Pyrus baccata female, with Tetofskj- 

 male, planted in orchard at one year from seed, April 

 28th, 1896. The tre has grown rapidly and Mintered 

 well. In the spring of 1899 it bloomed freely. The 

 ilo«ers were deep pink in bud, large when open, 

 pinkish white, petals wide. The fruit set well and 

 rijiened about September .3rd. Size of fruit 1 9 10 

 inches across and 1 6/16 inches deep, distinctly 

 ribbed, calyx persistent. Color a uniform yellow 

 and very attractive. Flesh yellow, solid, crisp, juicy, 

 with a pleasant flavor, mildly acid and ver}' slightly 

 astringent. Skin rather thin, fruit bakes well. 



Pioneer. — Pj-rus baccata, female, with Tetofskj-, 

 male. Planted in orchard as a yearling tree, April 

 28th, 1896. It has grown rapidh- and it blossomed 

 freely in the spring of 1899. The blossoms were pink 

 in bud, large and pure white M'hen o|jen, petals wide 

 The fruit set well and was ripe September 21st. 

 Size of fruit lj| inches accross and l| inches deep, 

 slightly ribbed, calyx persistent. Color yellow, 

 with a pink cheek. Flesh white, fine grained, firm, 

 crisp, moderately jnicy, subacid, with a pleasant 

 flavour, astringency very slight. 



