878 ARBORETUM AND FRUTICETUM. PART III. 



being mentioned by Turner, Gerard, Parkinson, and other early British 

 writers on botany and gardening. For its culture as a fruit tree, we refer 

 to the Encyclopaedia of Gardening, edit. 1835. As an ornamental tree, 

 it well deserves a place in every collection, from the tortuous fantastic 

 appearance of its branches, its large white flowers, its large leaves, and 

 the rich-looking persistent calyxes which accompany its fruit. 



rarieties. De Candolle gives the following forms of this species, which may 

 be considered as natural varieties : 



* M.g. 1 stf/vestris Mill. Diet., No. 1. Spiny. Fruit small. It loses its 



spines in a state of cultivation. 

 M.g. 2 stricta Dec., Ait. Hort. Kew., ii. p. 172., Dod. Pempt., 801. 



Spineless. Leaves doubly serrated. 



2 M. g. 3di/usa Dec., Ait. Hort. Kew., ii.p. 172., Du Ham. Arb. Fr.,i. 

 t. 3. Thornless. Leaves nearly entire. Fruit, in many instances, 

 abortive of seeds. 



In the Horticultural Society* t Fruit Catalogue, the following four culti- 

 vated sorts are given, which may be considered as artificial varieties : 



1 . Blake's large-fruited Medlar. 



2. Dutch Medlar. Fruit the largest of any. 



3. Nottingham, or common, Medlar. Fruit obovate, middle size, and of 



the best quality: the only sort worth cultivating for its fruit in 

 England. 



4. The stoneless Medlar. Fruit small, and of little merit. 



The fruit of the medlar is not eaten till in a state of incipient decay, when it 

 is very agreeable to some palates ; though it is, as Du Hamel observes, more 

 un fruit de fantaisie, than one of utility. A number of trees of the different 

 varieties may be seen in the orchard of the Horticultural Society's Garden, 

 where they have taken very picturesque shapes. 



Statistics. In some of the old gardens about Twickenham, the traveller may see from the road 

 medlar trees from 25ft. to 30ft. high, with heads from 30ft. to 40 ft. in diameter. At Syon, and at 

 Ham House, there are medlars 35ft. high. In Devonshire, at Bystock Park, a tree, 12 years planted, 

 is 14ft. high. In Surrey, at Bagshot Park, one, 20 years planted, is 18 ft high ; at Claremont, an old 

 tree is 20ft. high. In Wiltshire, at Longford Castle, there is a tree 15 ft. high, with a trunk 1 ft. in 

 diameter, and the diameter of the head 25 ft. In Radnorshire, at Maeslough Castle, there is one 

 24 ft. high. In Scotland, in the Glasgow Botanic Garden, 16 years planted, it is 15 ft. high ; in 

 Banffshire, at Gordon Castle, 24 ft. high ; in Stirlingshire, at Callander Park, 40 years planted, it 

 is 12 ft. high. In Ireland, in the Glasnevin Botanic Garden, 35 years planted, and 16 ft. high j in 

 Galway, at Castle Coole, 16 ft. high. 



2. M. SMI'TH// Dec. Smith's Medlar. 



Identification. Dec. Prod., 2. p. 633. ; Don's Mill., 2. p. 605. 



Synont/mes. M. grandiflbra Smith Exot. Bot., 1. p. 83. ; M lobata Pair, Hook, in Hot. Mag. t. 3342. 

 Engravtngt- Smith Exot. Bot, 1. 1 18. ; Bot. Mag., t. 3442. ; and the plate of this species in our 

 Second volume. 



Spec. Char., $c. Leaves oblong, elliptic, serrated, pubescent on the nerves 

 beneath. Flowers usually solitary. {Dons Mill., ii. p. 605.) The native 

 country of this tree has not been ascertained. The flowers are white, and 

 are one half smaller than those of the common medlar. The stipules of the 

 sterile branches are large and foliaceous. A tree, growing to the height of 

 20 ft., and flowering in May and June ; readily propagated by grafting on the 

 common thorn. It is as hardy as the common medlar, and well deserves 

 a place in ornamental plantations for the beauty of its flowers, which are 

 produced in great profusion. The general aspect and habit of the tree are 

 those of a C'rata3 v gus ; and, indeed, it is by many persons considered as more 

 properly belonging to that genus than to 7k/espilus. A scarlet-flowered 

 variety of this species would be a most charming garden plant. 



Statistics. There are fine old specimens of M. Smiths at Syon, Purser's Cross, Ham House, and 

 Fulham Palace, from 20 ft. to 25ft. high. In Sussex, at West Dean, 15 years planted, it is 19 ft. high, 

 the diameter of the trunk 9in., and of the head 24ft. In Wiltshire, at Warciour Castle, 30 years 

 planted, it is 4<)ft. high, the diameter of the trunk 1 ft. 2 in., and ;of the head 21 ft., in loamy soil, 

 on retentive clay. In Oxfordshire, in the Oxford Botanic Garden, 18 years planted, it is i.'4 ft. high. 

 In Scotland, in Forfarshire, at A irlie Castle, 8 years planted, it is <)ft. high. In Ireland, in the 

 Glasnevin Botanic Garden, 20 years planted, it is'lOft. high. Price, in the nurseries, the same as 

 for Cratae'gus. 



