PAWPAW . THORN - APPLES 443 



oblong -conical, three to five inches long and two or 

 three inches broad, light yellow and becoming brown- 

 blotched, with many large, transverse seeds. The 

 fruit is esteemed by the Indians, and it has been men- 

 tioned as worth}' of domestication, but although 

 aromatic it is insipid, and is not likely to attract 

 consumers. The fruit ripens in November. 



Of the asiminas, or so-called pawpaws, which 

 are also anonaceous plants, there are several species 

 in the United States. One of these, the northern 

 pawpaw (AsimiiM triloba) bears large and comestible 

 fruits, although most people do not relish the flavor. 

 Typical fruits are shown in Fig. 124. One or two 

 named varieties have been offered for sale. The plant 

 is eminently worthy of cultivation for its ornamental 

 qualities, but it is doubtful if we are to expect much 

 interest to be awakened in its fruit. 



The Thorn -Apples 



The genus crataegus is very closely allied to the 

 apples and pears, and it is rich in American species. 

 Several of these thorn-apples produce fruit of great 

 beauty, and some of the fruits are pulpy and edible, 

 and are esteemed in various localities. As long ago 

 as 1838, the Downings wrote of one of these thorns 

 as follows:* "Mr. Longworth, of Cincinnati, one of 

 the most distinguished horticulturists of the West, 

 writes us, in a recent communication, that he dis- 

 covered, in the interior of Ohio twenty -five years 

 ago, a variety of haw, with fruit the size of a crab- 

 apple, having a delicious flavor. He has lately re- 



*Hovey' Mag. Hort. 1838. 46. 



