46 
plants than their parents; and as all Apples hybridize very freely it is 
probable that large sowings of the seeds of the plants gathered in a 
collection like that of the Arboretum, which contains all the species 
and many varieties and hybrids, will yield forms of greater value as 
garden plants than those now known. 
It is hard to say which is the handsomest of the Asiatic Crabapples 
at this season of the year. The showiest fruit is perhaps that of 
Malus prunifolia. This tree has been considered a native of Siberia 
and northern China, but although it has been known in western gar- 
dens for more than one hundred and fifty years its home as a wild 
tree is not yet known. It is evidently one of the rarest Crabapples 
in American gardens. The fruit is oblong, broader at the base than 
at the apex, nearly an inch and a half in length, very lustrous, bright 
red, or yellow with a red cheek. It differs from many of the other 
Asiatic Crabapples in the large, persistent, erect calyx. In this coun- 
try at least the fruit is less abundant than that of many other species. 
The Rinki Crab, which is now believed to be a variety of Malus prun- 
ifolia, produces large crops of fruit in the Arboretum; this is smaller 
than the fruit of M. prunifolia and is often nearly globose, red, yel- 
low or green on different trees. The Rinki is a native of northern 
and western China, and for many centuries has been cultivated by the 
Chinese as a fruit tree. From China it was early carried to Japan 
where it was generally cultivated for its fruit until replaced by the 
American and European apples of larger size and better quality. The 
handsome and abundant fruit of the Rinki should secure for it a place 
in American gardens. 
Among hybrids of Malus prunifolia with other species, principally 
with the Siberian M. baccata, are plants which are conspicuous in the 
abundance and beauty of their fruit which, although somewhat smaller 
than that of M. prunifolia, is equally brilliant in color. This hybrid, 
which is still without a name, is well worth attention. Plants of M. 
floridana are unusually full of fruit this year which on some trees 
almost hides the leaves, giving the plant the appearance of fountains 
of old gold. The fruit on different plants varies somewhat in color 
and in size; from some it drops in the autumn as soon as it is ripe, 
and on other trees it remains until spring. Such trees furnish birds 
with great quantities of appreciated winter food. From many points 
of view this Crabapple is one of the very best large shrubs or small 
trees which can be grown in the northern United States. It is per- 
fectly hardy and of excellent habit; for forty years it has never failed 
to cover itself with flowers which, bright rose color in the bud, are 
white after the buds have opened; and there have not been many au- 
tumns when the fruit has not been as abundant as it is this year. 
Malus Arnoldiana, a natural hybrid of M. floridana with some other 
species, originated in the Arboretum. It has the habit of M. floridana 
but the flowers and fruits are nearly twice as large. Some persons 
consider this hybrid the handsomest of the Crabapples and there are 
certainly no more beautiful objects in the Arboretum this Autumn. 
The different forms of the Japanese Malus Sieboldiana are all hand- 
