4^ APPLES. 



DIVISION IV. CRAB APPLES. 



Crabs belong to an entirely distinct branch of the Apple family, 

 the type of the former being the well-known Siberian Crab, Pyrus 

 baccata, while all our common apples are varieties of Pyrus malus. 

 Hybrids of the two are freely produced, and of recent years many 

 new sorts have been introduced, some of divided merit and beauty. 

 The common idea concerning Crab apples is that they are prett}' 

 miniature apples of more or less astringency and fit only for making 

 jellies and preserves. The following descriptions show that they 

 vary from less than one to over two inches in diameter — that they 

 are sweet, sub-acid, acid, and bitter. It is probable their great 

 hardiness will make the choicer varieties valuable for cultivation in 

 the extreme North. 



Cherry. Very small, round oblate; light yellow, red blush, dots 

 small ; stem very long, slender ; cavity narrow, shallow ; calyx 

 small ; basin narrow, very shallow. Flesh yellow, juicy, sub-acid 

 astringent. August. Fig. 484. 



Dartmouth. Large ; crimson and orange, with a light brown, 

 handsome ; sub-acid. Tree vigorous and productive. Late.^ 



Excelsior. Very large, roundish-oblate ; stem long and slender ; 

 skin yellow, shaded and splashed with red, sprinkled with many 

 russet dots, handsome ; flesh white, juicy, good. Early. Min- 

 nesota. 



Florence. Large, very handsome, hardy dwarf. Bears early and 

 profusely. Western. 



Gibb. Large, round oblate ; bright orange yellow, flushed in sun ; 

 stem short, thick ; cavity wide, deep ; calyx medium, open ; basin 

 very wide, shallow, ribbed ; flesh deep yellow, firm, crisp, juicy, 

 sub-acid. Tree vigorous, hardy, and productive. One of the 

 best. Autumn. Fig. 482. Wisconsin. 



Gideon. Large, oblate conical ; light yellow ; stem long, slender ; 

 basin narrow, shallow ; calyx medium ; cavity narrow, deep ; flesh 

 yellowish white, tender, juicy, sub-acid, good. Autumn. Fig. 

 483. Minnesota. 



Hyslop.* Large, round ; in clusters ; bright, deep crimson, blue 

 bloom ; sub-acid, only fair quality, handsome. Tree very hardy 

 and vigorous. October. The most popular variety. 



Hewes Ciier Crab. Small, round, dull red, juicy, acid. Good 

 for cider only. 



Lady. {Lady Elgin). Rather large, whitish and red, juicy, sub- 

 acid Late. Illinois. 



