THE CRAB 45 



It IS this latter character that makes it so valuable in orchards, in showery weather the 

 fruit does not crack when so protected, and it travels all the better when dry ; growth, 

 rather upright, forms a noble orchard tree, and, from its superior flavour, is valuable 

 for garden culture. Season, mid-season. Fertility excellent. 



Other Cherries 

 The following cherries are also good : — 



Black Heart Race. — Bigarreau de Schreken, very large and of fine flavour ; 

 Bigarreau Koir de Guben, enormous size, but lacking flavour ; Bigarreau Noir de 

 Schmidt, a firm early sort, of rich flavour ; Bohemian Black Bigarreau, very large ; 

 Windsor, a very late American sort of a dull mulberry colour, a great bearer. 



Of the soft-fleshed " GuiGNES," Belle de St. Tronc, Duchesse de Palluau, Empress 

 Eugenie are very similar to those described ; Guigne de Winkler is quite distinct, a 

 small-fruited, long-stalked variety that hangs into September ; Ramon Oliva and Early 

 Purple Guigne are large fruits, like Morellos in size and colour, but sweet and earlier. 



Of the MoRELLO Class : — Belle Francoville, a late cooking, red variety ; Belle 

 de Montreuil and Reine Hortense are intermediate between Dukes and Morellos; 

 Olivet, from the Continent, is the earliest cooking cherry ; Cois Carnation, a late 

 striped red fruit. 



Citron, The (see p. 205). 



THE CRAB 



Besides their use as ornamental flowering trees and shrubs, the crabs have a 

 further value as decorative trees by reason of their brilliantly coloured fruits, 

 and the latter are useful for making jelly, compotes, &c. The crab will succeed 

 in any ordinary garden soil where the apple thrives. The most useful are the 

 following : — 



The Dartmouth. — This American fruit is of large size for a crab. It is most 

 beautiful, being of a rich violet plum colour, shading to orange. The tree is of very free 

 growth. 



John Downie. — This crab produces its oval-shaped scarlet and yellow fruits as 

 freely as a gooseberry does. It forms a neat tree. The fruits are about one inch long. 



The Orange. — A small round crab of a deep yellow colour, marked with black 

 dots ; very distinct. 



The Scarlet Siberian is one of the best. The globular, small fruits are pro- 

 duced on long stalks, and are like a cherry in shape ; commonly known as the cherry 

 apple. It forms a thin, sparse-growing tree. 



The Yellow Siberian is similar to the preceding, except that the fruits are of 

 canary yellow colour. 



The Transparent bears fruits of large size. They are rich yellow, with a pretty 

 red flush. The stalks are long and wiry, and when ripe the central portion of the 

 fruit is semi-transparent (hence its name). It is a favourite with many for dessert. The 

 tree grows freely, spreading its branches. 



The above are the best sorts. Cheat's Scarlet Siberian (small, very bright- 

 coloured fruits), the Fairy Crab, Mammoth, and Transcendent are all good 

 varieties. These crabs form pretty garden trees as pyramids, or bushes on 

 the Paradise stock. 



