CHAP. XLII. UOSA^CEJE. PY V HUS. 893 



Description, 8fc. Leaves oval, serrated, tomentose beneath. Flowers, in many instances, solitary. 

 Sexes dioecious, by defect. Calyx tomentose. Petals linear, the length of the sepals. Styles glabrous. 

 {Dec. Prod., ii. p. 635.) Cultivated occasionally in gardens on the Continent ; but we have not seen 

 it in Britain. 



¥ 17. P. (M.) astraca'nica Dec. The Astrachan Apple Tree. 



Identification. Dec. Prod., 2. p. 635. ; Don's Mill., 2. p. 646. 

 Synonyme. Malus astracanica Dum. Cours., ed. 2. 5. p. 426. 



Description, fyc. Leaves oval-oblong, acute, partially doubly serrated, pale 

 beneath, and the nerves there villose, above glabrous, except being slightly 

 downy on the midrib. {Dec. Prod., ii. p. 635.) A native of about Astrachan, 

 on the testimony of gardeners. 



Varieties of P. Mdlus cultivated for their Fruit. From the above forms, we 

 think it may safely be presumed, that all the apples cultivated for the dessert or 

 the kitchen have been obtained, either by selection from seedlings, or from 

 cross-fecundation ; and that no other wild sort has been used, unless, perhaps, 

 we except Pyrus coronaria; which, however, we have never heard of as being 

 employed in cross-fecundation. These garden, or cultivated, varieties, as will 

 hereafter appear, are very numerous ; but the following selection of sorts, 

 which are handsome-growing trees, or have fruit of a particular character, has 

 been made for us by Mr. Thompson, of the Horticultural Society's Garden, 

 from the collection under his care : — 



The Red Astrachan, The tree is middle-sized, with a branchy head ; the fruit 

 is of a bright red, with a fine bloom like that of a plum. This is one form 

 of the sort which De Candolle has designated as P. astracanica : our 

 No. 17. 

 The White Astrachan, or transparent Crab of Moscow. The tree resembles the 

 preceding sort, but has the branches tending upwards when young, and 

 afterwards becoming pendulous. The fruit is of a wax colour, with a 

 fine bloom on it, and is almost transparent. This is another form of P. 

 (M.) astracanica. It is known in English nurseries under the name of the 

 transparent crab. 

 The Black Crab is a tree of the middle size, with very dark small fruit, of no 



value as such. 

 The Court pendu plat is a remarkably dwarf-growing tree, and so late in 

 flowering, that the leaves are expanded before, or at the same time as, the 

 flowers ; and, consequently, the latter are seldom, if ever, injured by 

 frost : for which reason, it is commonly called by gardeners the wise apple. 

 Grafted on the French paradise stock, the tree may be kept of a size not 

 larger than that of a gooseberry bush ; in which state it will bear fruit 

 in abundance and of good flavour. 

 The Lincolnshire Holland Pippin is remarkable for the large size of its blos- 

 soms. Its fruit keeps till February. 

 The Tulip Apple is a great bearer of fruit, which is of a very bright red. 

 The Violet Apple has fruit of a violet colour, covered with a bloom like 



that of the plum. 

 The Cherry Crab is a subvariety of P. (M.) baccata. The tree is spreading, 

 with drooping branches ; and the fruit is numerous, and about the size and 

 colour of a large cherry. 

 The Supreme Crab has fruit rather larger than the preceding sort. The tree 



is of robust growth, and the branches are somewhat erect. 

 Bigg's Everlasting Crab was raised in the Cambridge Botanic Garden, by 

 Mr. Biggs, the curator, from seeds received from Siberia in 1814. It is a 

 vigorous-growing tree, with pendulous branches and abundance of fruit, 

 which, in form and character, are intermediate between P. (M.) pruntfolva. 

 and P. (M.) baccata, and which remain on the trees long after Christmas. 

 In sheltered situations, and mild winters, this tree appears almost a sub- 

 evergreen. 



General Description. The apple tree, whether in a wild state or cultivated, is 

 by no means so handsome in form as the pear tree, though its blossoms are 



