312 TREES OF MINNESOTA. 



PytUS ioensiS. Iowa Crab. Wild Crab. Western Crab. 



Leaves simple, oblong or obovate-oval, variously notched 

 and toothed; the lower surface as well as the leaf stalks, short 

 pedicels and young growth densely white pubescent. Flowers 

 rose-colored, fragrant, much like those of Pyrus coronaria, with 

 which this species was formerly classed and is now sometimes 

 referred to as a variety. Fruit round, somewhat flattened, dull 

 green with small light dots, hard, bitter, keeps through the 

 winter. A small tree. 



Distribution. Minnesota and Wisconsin, south to Kentucky 

 and Indian Territory. 



Propagation. By seeds or by graftage. It does not form a 

 durable union wth Pyrus mains, although such unions may last 

 several years. 



Properties of wood. Heavy, close grained, not hard nor 

 strong; brown to light red in color, with thick yellow sap- 

 wood. Specific gravity 0.7048; weight of a cubic foot 43.92 

 pounds. 



Uses. The Iowa Crab, with its large fragrant flowers, forms 

 a very pretty small ornamental tree. The fruit is made into 

 preserves and cider. W r hen growing in its natural state the 

 tree is hardy and is seldom injured by fire-blight, but seems 

 to be very much subject to this disease when cultivated, es- 

 pecially after it has been transplanted. 



Pyrus americana. Mountain Ash. American Mountain 

 Ash. 



Leaves odd-pinnate; leaflets eleven to seventeen, lanceolate, 

 taper-pointed, bright green above, generally paler beneath. 

 Flowers in large compound leafy cymes, appearing in May or 

 June. Fruit usually three-celled, globose or slightly pear- 

 shaped, bright red with thin flesh, one-fourth inch in diameter, 

 ripens in late autumn and remains on the tree all winter unless 

 eaten by birds. A small tree with smooth bark seldom reach- 

 ing a height of thirty feet, and often a mere shrub. 



Distribution. From Newfoundland to Manitoba and south- 

 wards through the more elevated portions of northeastern 

 United States and the region of the Great Lakes. It reaches 

 its greatest size north of Lake Superior and Lake Huron. In 



