1 -AW I 'AW. — THOBN-APPLES 443 



oblong -conical, three to five inches l«»ii^ r and two or 

 three inches broad, light yellow and becoming brown- 

 blotched, with many large, transverse seeds. The 

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

 tioned as worthy <>t' 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 tli<- United States. (Mm- <>t' these, the northern 

 pawpaw {Asimina triloba) bears large and comestible 

 fruits, although most people <!<> nol relish the flavor. 

 Typical fruits are shown in Fij;. 124. One or two 

 named varieties have been offered for sale. The plant 

 is eminently worthy <>f cultivation for its ornamental 

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

 interest to 1»<- awakened in its fruit. 



I hi I horn - . I ppl( s 



The genus Crataegus i- very closely allied to the 

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

 Several <>f these thorn-apples produce frail of great 

 beauty, and some of th<- traits are pulpy and edible, 

 and are esteemed in various localities. As long ago 

 as 1838, 1 1 1 • - Downings wrote of <'!!<• of these thorns 

 as t<>ll" "Mr. Longworth, of Cincinnati, <>n<- of 



th<- m<>>t distinguished horticulturists <>t the West, 

 writes as, in a recent communication, thai he dis- 

 red, in the interior <»t' Ohio twenty-five years 

 ago, ;i variety of haw, with fruit the si/.- of a crab- 

 apple, having a delicious flavor. II'' has Lately re- 



•II.,-.. 



