THE CRAB. 75 



CHAPTER IX. 



The Crab. 



REFERENCE has been made in the chapter devoted to the 

 Apple to the use of the Crab Apple as a stock for the 

 cultivated varieties of apples. Our purpose here, how- 

 ever, is to deal with the cultivated forms of the varieties 

 of Crab Apples, the fruit of which is so highly esteemed 

 for making jellies, etc. These forms of the Crab are not 

 only valuable for their fruit, but also for their ornamental 

 effect in the garden. Their blossoms are pretty in late 

 spring, and their gaily-coloured fruits are decidedly effec- 

 tive in the early autumn. They are, moreover, of easy 

 cultivation, and may be grown in the shrubbery, on the 

 lawn, or in a special plot by themselves. 



Soil. They will succeed in any soil that will suit the 

 requirements of the Apple ; so that everyone who has room 

 for a tree or two in the garden, shrubbery, or orchard 

 may grow them. 



Form of Trees- For the shrubbery, lawn, or the 

 orchard, standards are the most suitable form of tree. 

 For garden culture, pyramids grafted on the Paradise are 

 best. In the latter case, summer and winter prune as 

 advised for the Apple. 



Culture. Plant in November or not later than Feb- 

 ruary, precisely as you would an apple tree. Standards 

 will then require no further attention beyond keeping the 

 centres of the trees open, and thinning out overcrowded 

 growth. Pyramids should be planted I2ft., and standards 

 about 1 8ft. apart. 



