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THE CENTURY BOOK OF GARDENING. 



than lyd. in height. The orange red blossoms are 

 freely produced in the spring, and in autumn the 

 golden yellow fruits add quite another feature. These 

 fruits, which are as large as small Apples, make excellent 

 jam. 



P. Smithi, known also as Mespilus Smilhi and 

 M. grandiflora, as well as Crataegus grandiflora, is a 

 medium-growing tree, with deep'green leaves, and showy 

 white blossoms. The fact that it blooms towards the end 

 of May or June, when the bulk of spring-flowering trees 

 is past, is a point in its favour. It is of dense growth 

 and pleasing in the pleasure grounds. It is now called 

 P. lobata. 



P. speetabilis [Chinese Crab). — This Chinese species 

 forms a free, somewhat upright-growing tree, with large 

 semi-double flowers, bright red in the bud, but paler when 

 expanded. It is one of the showiest of all the Crabs. 

 Rosea plena is a double variety of great beauty. Its 

 flowers crowd thick upon the shoots in spring, wreathing 

 them in tenderest pink. 



long in a satisfactory manner. The varieties can be 

 grafted in the spring, but they do not unite readily, and, 

 as in the case of flowering trees and shrubs in general, 

 grafting is a pernicious practice. Always raise from seeds 

 and by layering if possible. 



As there are so many Oaks, a selection is a difficult 

 matter, but those enumerated are all good : 

 . alba.. — One of the American Oaks that derives its name 

 from the whitish character of the young bark. This 

 forms a noble tree, and the oblong lobed leaves die off 

 tinged with reddish purple. 



. Cerris ( Turkey Oak). — This is a vigorous-growing tree, 

 with branches and twigs altogether straighter than those 

 of our English Oaks, from which it is also distinguished 

 by the cup of the acorn being bristly. 



. COCCinea. The brightest of the American Oaks, as 

 the large, glossy, deeply-lobed leaves change to a scarlet 

 colour some time before thev drop. It is a large tree, 

 and very handsome ; splendens is even a richer form. It 

 is impossible to convey in words how wonderfully effective 



Kll US CO IIS US. 



P. TorillgO is a slender-growing Japanese Crab, with a 

 profusion of small pink flowers. Its elegant growth and 

 numerous flowers render it an extremely attractive shrub 

 or dwarf tree. 



P. vestita. — This is altogether larger and more vigorous 

 than the White Beam Tree, which it resembles to a 

 certain extent. 



The Crabs form one of the most precious families of all. 

 Besides the species and varieties named above, there are 

 such forms as John Downie, remarkable for the profusion 

 and brilliancy of its fruit, the Dartmouth Crab, and a 

 recent weeping variety of much merit named Elise 

 Rathke. It is a family that should be well taken in hand, 

 and the best forms selected and grouped. 



QuerCUS {the Oaks). — The Quercus is a very numerous 

 family, embracing the Oaks, representatives of which are 

 to be found in all the temperate regions of the globe. 

 Most of them produce acorns freely, from which young 

 plants can be raised in quantity. They should be sown 

 as soon as possible after ripening, as they do not keep 



these American Oaks are in the landscape by reason of 



the brilliant colouring of the foliage. 

 Q. maerocarpa. — Notable for its very large, deeply-lobed 



leaves and the size of its fruits, the acorn being nearly 



buried in the cup. The foliage dies off a reddish colour. 

 Q. nigra. — A tree about 2oft. high, with tortuous branches, 



dark-coloured bark, and large curious Pear-shaped leaves. 



They change to a blackish red in autumn, but soon 



drop. 



Q. PheliOS. — This North American Oak is readily distin- 

 guished from all other natives of that continent by reason 

 of its long, narrow, Willow-like leaves, and its straight 

 shoots. 



Q. Robtir. — .Under this head are included our two British 

 Oaks, which by some are considered distinct species, 

 that with the acorns borne on long stalks being Q. pedun- 

 culata, and the short-stemmed one Q. sessiliflora. The 

 bold rugged appearance of our native Oak gives character 

 and interest to many an English park. Varieties 

 of the British Oaks are numerous, there being upright, 



