152 MY GARDEN. 



The Winter Greening will keep till the second year; and the 

 French Crab (fig. 270), which we also cultivate, keeps 

 for two years. 



If is indeed a glorious sight to look at our apple 

 bushes in full flower in the month of May ; but as the 

 Fig. 270. —French Crab, performance is to the promise, so is the display of 

 the fruit in autumn to the blossom of spring. 



" And them amongst, some were of burnish'd Gold, 

 So made by Art, to beautify the rest, 



Which did themselves amongst the Leaves enfold, 

 As lurking from the view of covetous Guest, 

 That the weak Boughs, with so rich load oppress'd, 



Did bow adown, as over-burden'd." — Spenser, Fairy Queen. 



Besides apple-trees, the Siberian Crab {Pyrus prunifolia, fig. 271) 

 is a tree of surpassing beauty, first when in blossom in the spring, 

 and a second time when in fruit in the late summer. It is so 

 great an ornament in the garden that I have at 

 least a dozen trees, and, in favourable seasoils, th^ 

 produce is "large, which I distribute amoftgst my 

 friends; telling them not to despise so small an 

 apple, but to be thankful for the gift, which they 



Fig, 271. — Siberian Crab i ^ ^ r . . 



ought to preserve for wmter use as one of their 

 most delicious conserves. The Scarlet Crab is even more hand- 

 some, but it is not so well flavoured. The American Crab is larger 

 and not so beautiful, but good for apple jelly. Both of these latter 

 should be grown in shrubberies, where fruitless trees would otherwise 

 take their place: 



" Tall thriving trees confess'd the fruitful mold. 

 The redd'ning apple ripens here to gold."— Pope's Od. 



Cider apples are not grown with us, and the cider which is used 

 is procured from Stephens of Gloucester, who has favoured me with 

 the particulars of its manufacture on a large scale. It is supposed 

 that apples yielding the densest juice make the finest cider, and 



