MR. T. K. SHORTT ON CRAT^GTTS AND PYRUS. 151 



great deal of mischief; and some insect, whose perfect state I was 

 unable to secure, attacked in great numbers the heart of the 

 plants, reducing it rapidly into a loathsome pulp, no indications of 

 the disease appearing till the crop was raised for sale. 



XXX. On certain species and varieties of the Genera Crataegus 

 and Pyrus as Ornamental Plants. By Mr. Thomas Kier 

 Shortt. 



It has long been to me a matter of wonder that these remark- 

 ably beautiful genera are so much neglected in ornamental planting; 

 the only reason I can suggest is the general ignorance of gar- 

 deners as to their merits, as not one in fifty can correctly name ten 

 species or varieties if laid before them. 



It matters not whether we take them for their flowers, fruit, or 

 foliage ; for selections can be made from the three classes, where 

 the particular object can be attained, or two or more combined. 



Among those remarkable for the beauty of their flowers Cra- 

 taegus Oxyacantha punicea with its single scarlet flowers, C. O. 

 punicea flore pleno or double deep-rose-coloured thorn, C. O. mul- 

 tiplex or double white, G. O. prcscox or the Grlastonbury-thorn 

 (which frequently flowers at Christmas) may be mentioned. JN~or 

 is the common Hawthorn planted singly in anything like the fre- 

 quency it deserves. Any one who has seen the numerous large 

 specimens in the Phoenix Park, Dublin, when in full bloom, will 

 own they never saw a more beautiful sight in nature ; and several 

 of the American species may be scattered about with great 

 advantage. C. lobata (=Mespilus grandiflora, Sm.) should not be 

 omitted. 



Among the Pyrus tribe, some of the varieties of the common 

 crab as seen in the copses and hedges, or standing singly in our 

 parks, are well worthy of notice, and are only exceeded by the 

 lovely Pyrus Malus spectabilis and P. M. coronaria in the size, fra- 

 grance, and colour of their blossoms. Nor must we omit the 

 Pyrus japonica, which, when well grown, is decidedly one of our 

 most ornamental shrubs. 



In the class conspicuous for their fruit we have a much wider 

 scope for selection. Crataegus coccinea corallina, or large coral-red, 

 C. glandulosa, large deep red, C punctata brevispina, dark crimson, 

 C.nigra, small bright black, C. Aronia, large light yellow ; C Oxya- 



