TREES GROWING IN RICH SOIL. 



159 



AMERICAN CRAB-APPLE. SWEET-SCENTED CRAB 



TREE. {Plate LXXIX.) 



MiMus corondria. 



FAMILY SHAPE HEIGHT 



Apple. Heady open: lo-i^/eet. 



branches^ spreading. 



RANGE 

 Ontario to Mic/t., south- 

 wiird to So. Caroiiiia. 



TIME OF BLOOM 

 Aprity May. 

 /•ruit: Sept. 



Bark : reddish brown, the outer layers separating into thin plates. Sti/>ulfs : 

 early falling. Leaves : simple; alternate ; with slender, downy petioles; ovate, 

 with pointed apex and rounded or slightly cordate base. Eilgcd toothed when 

 mature, and frequently appearing as though having two side lobes. Jiright 

 green above; paler below; at maturity glabrous. FUmicrs : large; rose coloureil, 

 or white; fragrant; growing in loose, terminal umbels anil appearing after the 

 leaves. Calyx: pubjscent. Corolla: of five petals. Stamens: numerous. 

 Pistil : one. Fruit : a yellowish-green poiue; very fragrant; and covered with 

 a waxy substance ; sour. 



Who that is acquainted with the odours of nature does not 

 lift his head in the air to inhale more freely the delightful fra- 

 grance of this little tree and then look about to locate its 

 presence ? The deeply-hued, brilliant blossoms are particularly 

 lovely and enliven all the rusty and misty green tones which 

 hover over the earth so early in the season. About the fruit, 

 however, there is a sly deception ; it appears as though it might 

 be very good and thus many are led to taste of it, when the 

 disillusion is sad indeed. By a little judicious management 

 housewives make it into crab-apple jelly and preserves. Cider 

 also is made from the fruit. As a shrub the American crab- 

 apple is rather distorted and bushy in outline; but when seen 

 as a small tree in cultivation hardly one more beautiful can be 

 imagined. Its fruit then becomes tinged with red and yellow. 



M. (7n:^/ts/i/b/ia, narrow-leaved crab-apple, {Plate LX XX. ^ 

 differs from the preceding species in that its leaves are narrowly- 

 oblong, or lanceolate. It mostly inhabits the south and west 

 and, what is rather unusual from its locality, bears smaller 

 flowers and fruit than the northern one. The coloured illustra- 

 tion shows clearly its lovely spray of pink blossoms and its 

 round, green fruit. Its wood is closely grained and heavy. It 

 is made into handles for tools and into manv small articles. 



