BULLETIN NO. 3. 
The Chinese and Japanese Crabapples (Malus) are now in full bloom. 
There are two collections of these plants in the Arboretum. The oldest 
is on the left-hand side of Forest Hills Road; the other is at the eastern 
base of Peter’s Hill. The plants in the second, or supplementary, collec- 
tion are smaller than those in the first collection, but the Peter’s Hill 
collection contains a larger number of species and varieties. 
The best known of the eastern Asiatic Crabs is Malus floribunda. 
This is one of the handsomest and most satisfactory of all flowering trees 
for this climate. It blooms every year without fail, it grows to a large 
size in good soil and abundant space, and as it reaches maturity it as- 
sumes a picturesque habit. The bright pink flower-buds are very beau- 
tiful and the masses of small flowers which completely cover the branches 
are at first pink and then gradually become white. A seedling variety or 
hybrid of this tree which originated in the Arboretum has been called 
Malus Arnoldiana. This plant promises to remain a smaller tree than 
Malus floribunda but its long spreading and arching branches are very 
graceful and the flowers produced on long stems are more than twice as 
large as those of its parent. The flowers of this interesting tree are con- 
sidered by some persons more beautiful than those of any other Crab- 
apple. Two Japanese species deserve attention; they are Malus zumi , 
a slender tree from the elevated region of central J apan, and Malus Sar- 
gentii, a low wide bush discovered a few years ago on the borders of a 
salt marsh in the northern island. The shrubby habit, unlike that of the 
other species of Malus, makes this an excellent plant for small gardens. 
The other Japanese species, Malus toringo , which grows also in northern 
China, is the last of the Asiatic species to flower and will not be in bloom 
for several days. Very beautiful now is the so-called Parkman Crab, 
Malus Halliana, with semi-double bright pink flowers hanging gracefully 
on long slender stems. This Chinese plant was introduced into the United 
States from Japan nearly fifty years ago by the late Gordon Dexter of 
of Boston, and first flowered here in the gardens of Francis Parkman. 
Very beautiful, too, are Malus spectabilis , with pyramidal habit and 
semi-double flowers, and the variety or hybrid raised from it in Europe, 
Malus Scheideckeri. There are in the collection several plants with pure 
white flowers which are believed to be hybrids between Malus prunifolia, 
a tree which is unknown except in gardens, and the Manchurian Malus 
baccata. In brightness of color the red flowers of Malus atrosanguinea 
are not surpassed. This plant has the habit of Malus floribunda and is 
believed to be a hybrid from it. Several individuals of this will be found 
in the Peter’s Hill collection. 
