The Siberian Crab. 57 



THE SIBERIAN CRAB, OR CHERRY-APPLE 

 ( Pyrus prunifolia). 



A VERY pretty little fruit, inside, and in colour also, like an 

 apple, but in dimensions resembling a cherry, borne upon 

 stalks quite as long and slender as those of cherries, and 

 usually growing in clusters of three to six or seven. It 

 is one of those which occupy the border-land between 

 the uncivilized and the acknowledged garden fruits, 

 among which it will probably some day be reckoned, 

 when some pains have been taken with the culture. For 

 although called a "crab," in point of flavour it is already 

 far in advance of the wild apple; rather sharp, no doubt, 

 but palatable and inviting, and when prepared with 

 syrup, always a welcome sight upon the table. The tree 

 producing it is one of quite moderate dimensions. The 

 leaves remind one of the plum-tree. The white flowers 

 come out in profusion in early summer. As said above 

 (p. 23) it may perhaps be one of the parents of our 

 modern garden apples. 



As implied in the name, the native country is Southern 

 Siberia; it extends, however, into Tartary and North 

 China. When introduced is not quite certain, but it 

 would be shortly before 1758. In 1784 came another 

 form of this interesting plant, which having smaller fruit, 

 usually of a much deeper red, received the name of 

 Pyrus baccata. Like the prunifolia, it is Siberian, 

 reaching through the eastern districts of Lake Baikal 

 I 



