474 



NOTES FROM A GARDEN HERBARIUM. 



enormously productive of its peculiar austere fruit. The 

 wild crab ripens its fruit from early autumn until the 

 following summer. The old practice in pioneer times 

 was to bury the hard fruit in the soil late in autumn and 

 so leave it until spring, when it would open out a fine 

 golden yellow. 



" In its wild state, this crab is a variable fruit in size, 

 color, flavor, shape and time of ripening. I have seen 

 trees of it growing wild, with fruits averaging fully two 

 inches in diameter. The fruit of the Soulard runs from 

 one and a-half to two inches. The fruit of it is gener- 

 ally round, somewhat flattened, averaging about an inch 

 in diameter, though often larger or smaller. It is rarely 

 oblong, sometimes pyriform, and I have seen it (or one 

 of the same type) in one instance with the fruit pyriform, 

 and with a bright red cheek, growing in the woods 

 miles away from domesticated apples ; and I have 

 heard of two other like instances. The better 

 varieties of our wild crab should be a fruit of 

 value in the far north, above the line where the 

 common apple can be safely grown. And there 

 is no doubt, from its natural variability, that a 



fruit of considerable value could be produced from it 

 for culinary purposes. The pioneers had little use for 

 it, simply because sugar in those days cost money, and 

 money at times was not to be had " 



The fruits of these American crab apples should be 

 systematically studied, and I hope that all readers of 

 The American Garden who have access to them will 

 send me specimens this fall. A half-dozen fruits can be 

 sent by mail in a strong box, and they should always be 

 accompanied by a few 

 leaves from the same 

 tree. L. H. Bailey. 

 I//uu-a, N. Y. 



Fig. 8. Leaves of Pyrus Ioensis. 



A FEW HINTS ON BULBS FOR EARLY BLOOMING. 



N ORDER to have flowering bulbs 

 at Christmas, now is the time to 

 commence preparations ; at least 

 to plan for the display. Many 

 people have tried to get the Dutch 

 hyacinths to flower at Christmas, 

 but succeeded in producing either a stunted flower 

 stem, or perhaps oftener no flowers at all. This 

 proves that the Dutch hyacinths are not suitable 

 for early forcing. Of late years we have had the 

 great advantage of securing the Roman hyacinths, 

 which are thoroughly suited for Christmas bloom. 



This class has been thoroughly developed only in 

 one color — pure white. Within the last three or 

 four years red and blue sorts have been added, but 

 in my experience they are not so perfect as the 

 white, or so early. Probably in course of time the 

 other colors will be better fixed in type, when we 

 may enjoy the three graces at Christmas time. In 

 September start the Roman hyacinth in sandy loam. 

 Take a quart pot ; in it put four good bulbs, press 

 the earth firmly around them, and cover about half 

 an inch. They may then be placed in the cellar, 

 either in a dark corner or in a box, so that all light 



