458 PARK AND 
PYRUS BACCATA PLORIBUNDA. 
Among others of the Japanese flowering apples to be 
found in most all nursery collections these are well 
known: Pyrus Toringo, P. Halleana (Parkmanni), 
P. Ringo, and several others not well understood as to 
their proper names. Several of these have ornamental 
fruit, some quite small, not larger than peas ; others 
larger and of bright color, and all have handsome, shin- 
ing leaves. 
The one called Halleana, or Parkmanni, as better 
known, being the older name, is a most beautiful sight 
when in flower. The buds are of a lovely dark pink be- 
fore they expand, lighter afterwards ; but every one 
values it for its appearance in bud over its effect when 
in full flower. But for profusion of flower — and this 
is what we think the most of in spring — floribunda, the 
one of our subject, leads all. 
Among our native flowering apples, crabs, as we call 
them, the well known sweet scented crab, Pyrus coro- 
naria, leads all in its sweet perfume. A tree in flower 
spreads its odor very far from where it stands, denoting 
its presence often long before it is seen. This is the 
eastern one of our woods. The western one is Ivcnsis, 
and it, too, is of sweet odor. It was not well known to 
cultivators until the advent of the double form, the 
one known as Bechtel’s Double flowering, which is a 
deserved favorite because of its large, sweet scented 
double flowers. The large pink flowers of it excuses 
the mistake children often make of saying it is “a tree 
full of roses.” 
FREE DISTRIBUTION OF TREES BY DEPARTMENT OF 
PUBLIC GROUNDS IN BOSTON. 
The object of the Superintendent of Public Grounds 
of Boston in making the annual free distribution of 
trees is to enable those who want to plant trees to get 
the kinds that have been properly grown, that is, with 
an abundance of fibrous roots which will insure the 
CEMETF RY. 
growth of the tree after it has been taken from the 
nursery. By the free distribution, also, he interests 
many people in the work that would never plant a 
tree, if obliged to pay for it. A work like this grown 
easily and one person planting in a location where 
there are no trees, will create an interest in his imme- 
diate neighborhood that will bear fruit immediately, 
particularly when they know that the trees are of ex- 
cellent quality and that they can be had for the ask- 
ing. All that is necessary to obtain the trees is to 
have a residence within the city limits and to make a 
written application to the Superintendent stating the 
kind of tree wanted and the applicant's residence and 
name. On the ’■eceipt of this an inspector is sent to 
call on the prospective tree planter. If the place where 
the planting is to be done is suitable as regards the 
quantity and quality of loam, etc., a permit is mailed 
the following day and this permit when presented at 
the nursery will obtain the tree or trees. There is no 
limit to the number of trees given to each person, 
the only requisite being that the space shall be ample 
and suitable for the number desired. Where a num- 
ber of trees are to be planted a man will be sent to 
supervise the work and the best satisfaction has re- 
sulted from such an arrangement. The Superintendent 
is careful to see that the trees distributed are excep- 
tionally good. They are nursery grown, in reality as 
well as in name. A so-called nursery tree, such as is 
usually sent out from nurseries, is not fully up to the 
standard, generally, of what a tree should be. There 
are many reasons for this, the principal one being that 
the public will not pay a price that is only fair for 
such a tree. The nurseryman’s space is valuable and 
trees can not be handled and grown for from three to 
four years and shifted each year during that time with- 
out considerable expense. A tree properly grown 
will form its roots close to the trunk in thick fibrous 
masses- — all feeders — and a tree of this kind can be 
taken from the ground without any danger and even 
shipped to great distances with perfect safety. The 
■ usual nursery tree is deficient in fibre but has plenty 
of thick roots that have run to great lengths while in 
the nursery. The feeders are at the ends of these 
roots and as a consequence most of them are destroyed 
when taken from the ground. Such a tree can be 
bought very cheap, but it is a cheap tree. The free 
trees are grown for three to four years in the nursery 
at the city greenhouse and during that time they are 
transplanted every year, properly pruned and kept free 
from pests. With any care m handling, their future 
is assured. The excellence of the tree has made the 
work of distribution an unqualified success, and whole 
streets and neighborhoods are today liberally planted 
that would not otherwise have had a tree. The option 
is given to those taking trees to plant on the sidew'alk 
