292 [ THE AZAROLE THORN OR NEAPOLITAN MEDLAR 



The fruit fly sometimes punctures the fruit of the 

 medlar and destroys it, whenever it is unable to find more 

 suitable fruits wherein to lay its eggs. Zeuzera Aesculi 

 Latr. attacks the stem and branches, and the two perni- 

 cious beetles Cerambyx miles Bon. and Capnodis tene- 

 brionis L. attack the base of the stem with the same 

 determination which they display on the pear and on other 

 kernel fruits. Several small moths attack also the medlar 

 in the larval stage of their life, but the injury caused by 

 them is unimportant. 



THE AZAROLE THORN OR 



NEAPOLITAN MEDLAR. 

 Crataegus Azarolus Lin. ROSACEAE (POMACEAE). 



Maltese anzalori. \\.&\dcs\azzeruolo, lasarolo. French = 



The Azarole is a native of Europe, and one of 

 its many forms, Crataegus Azarolus L. var. ruscinonensis 

 Gren. et Blanc., grows wild in our valleys, although 

 it is much less common than the haw- thorn (Crataegus 

 Oxyacantha Lin. var. monogyna Jacq.). It is a tree 

 often exceeding 3 metres in height, and thrives well 

 in all soils and all situations. The tree can be trans- 

 planted in winter with perfect safety, even when it is 

 nearly full grown. 



The Azarole can be propagated by seeds or kernels 

 which should be sown or stratified in autumn or winter. 

 The kernels take about two years to germinate, but 

 a few will spring up in the course of the following 

 summer if duly watered, and the remainder will germinate 

 in the following spring. However, the azarole is easily 

 propagated by rooted suckers or by grafting on the 

 common hawthorn. It is sometimes propagated also by 

 cuttings or layers. Rooted suckers are trasplanted in 

 winter and with proper care rarely fail to establish them- 



