Pyrus 



1573 



in the library there, is an excellent drawing of a crab which grew in the valley 

 known as Mackershaw Trough, and in 1837 was 45 ft. high by 3 feet in girth at 

 three feet from the ground. But this tree was no longer alive when I visited the 

 place in 1905. In the hedgerows of the Cotswold hills it sometimes attains 30 ft. by 

 5 ft. Near the water tower at Barnsley Park, Cirencester, there is a tree, which 

 in 191 1 was about 45 ft. in height by 10 ft. in girth at 3 ft. from the ground, above 

 which it divides into three stems. 



Sir R. Christison ^ measured in 1876, at Kelloe, near Duns, Berwickshire, a 

 perfectly healthy crab tree, 50 ft. high and 8 ft. in girth. It produced flowers 

 abundantly and fruit in considerable quantity. 



The crab tree comes up from seed pretty freely, but cannot be recommended for 

 cultivation, as both its fruit and flowers are inferior to many of the exotic apples. It 

 is not particular about soil, but seems to grow most freely on soils containing lime. 



Though inferior to that of the pear tree, which it resembles in colour, hardness, 

 and size, yet the wood of both wild and cultivated apples has some value for turnery, 

 and was used for cog wheels and country furniture until driven out by wholesale 

 manufacturers who use foreign wood only. I have used it for flooring blocks, for 

 which its hardness and colour makes it very suitable, but the majority of the apple 

 trees are usually decayed at heart before they cease to bear, and when worn out are 

 used, like the pears, for firewood. (H. J. E.) 



1 Trans. Bot. Soc. Edinburgh, xii. i86 (1876). 



