1002 
THE GARDENING WORLD 
December 10, 1904. 
Both, the type and the variety are most valued for their flowers. 
Another fairly wedl-known form is the Siberian Crab (P. 
baocata), which isi notable for its wealth of white blossom in 
the spring, and the quantity of red and yellow fruits which 
it produces and carries in some seasons upon the tree right 
up till Christmas or later 1 . The sepals: fall away from the 
fruit, leaving it about the size: and form of a, Cherry. This 
variety is only planted wherei plenty of space can be afforded 
it to assume the form of a. roundheaded tree or standard in 
the grounds 1 . Closely allied tto it is another Siberian C'rab 
(P. prunifolia), which differs chiefly from P. baocata. by having 
the fruit surmounted by sepals. Here, again!, the fruits are 
similar in: size! to a Cherry, and freely produced as ai rule. 
The two: species just mentioned are,' so closely allied that diffi¬ 
culty isi experienced in keeping them as separate specie® owing 
to the number of intermediate: forms. This affords no: matter 
for surprise, seeing that the whole! group of wild Crabsi are 
veiy closely allied, and some thirty years: ago 'or more would 
have been grouped as forms: of P. Malus, as they are now: in 
some 'books. Cheal’s Crimson Siberian Crab is considered 
the finest-flowering variety, and is classed as P. prunifolia 
cocci nea. 
The Garland Crab (P. corona,ria,) is chiefly valued for its, 
scented flowers, fruits and leaves', which recall the perfume of 
\ inlets 1 . The rosy flowers: are also highly ornamental in. spring 
just, like: other members of the Apple tribe, but the sweet odour 
is certainly the highest recommendation that can be given 
this 1 , which may be regarded as the common American Crab. 
The leaves are more distinct than is customary, being triangu¬ 
lar, deeply toothed, or more or less decidedly threedobed. The 
very fine variety P.e. flore plena hast double flower's, each 
about 2 in. across:. They are: also late in making their appear¬ 
ance, hanging for some considerable time, and thus prolong¬ 
ing the season of beauty in the out-door grounds. 
Closely allied to the above is, the Prairie Crab (P. ioensis), 
having rosy flowers: followed by green-fruits'. In some parts' 
of America this used to> be valued for 1 the sake of its fruit's 
which were preserved, but had scarcely any other recommenda'- 
tion. A double variety of it (P. i. flore plena) takes front 
lank, however, in the United States under the name: of Bech¬ 
tel’s: Crab. The flowers are of large size, produced in clusters 1 , 
and are sufficiently large and conspicuous as: to resemble Boses’ 
The Chinese: Crab (P. spectabilisi) is a, very old inhabitant of 
British gardens: having been introduced from. China in 1780. 
In all probability it was 1 the first Crab grown purely for orna,- 
menta.l purposes. The fruits are greenish-yellow, but offer 
nothing striking by comparison with several others, and are 
not often produced in abundance. The semi-double forms, 
however, are highly ornamental on account of the large size- of 
their flowers:. In the bud state these may be described as 
red, gradually fading to rosy-pink like Apple blossom', but 
exceedingly effective on account of their large size and the 
length of time they hang. We gave a, supplementary illustrar 
tion of this: species- in The Gardening World for Auo-ust, 13th 
last. 
In addition to the Garland Grab 1 and Beohtelis Crab, another 
American variety having perfume for a recommendation is P. 
angustifolia. The odour is said to resemble that .of Mignonette. 
The double variety P. a:, flore pleno is the most valued, as: the 
flowers' are pink, double, and resemble clusters of small Roses. 
In, this respect it would recall Bechtel’s Crab and the Chinese 
Crab. It, is a very old introduction to this country, having- 
been, cultivated in 1750. The: noted American botanist, the 
late Asai Gray, considered this a, variety of P. coronaria’ but 
that, we think, is, only an easy method 1 of getting out, of the 
difficulty of distinguishing between closely allied forms, and the 
placing of it, under that species: is similar to' the plan adopted 
here of putting the different forms under the common Crab-. 
The leaves are relatively narrow, but several others; would come 
under a similar designation. 
The hybrid Crab named P. Scheideckeri is also' chiefly 
valued for the sake of its flowers. In the bud state these are 
crimson, becoming rosy-pink when expanded, and produced ini 
remarkable profusion. The fruits 1 are only sparingly produced. 
The handsome effect of the flowering specimens, however, may 
be seen by reference to our supplementary illustration of 
July 23rd last. It is a hybrid between P. prunifolia and P. 
floribunda. 
Several other Ja,pan,else Crabs are ornamental whether in the 
flowering or the fruiting condition. One of these is P. 
Toringo, with small globular yellow fruits scarcely larger than 
marrowfat, Peas, and produced in clusters. The species is one 
of the: most distinct, owing to- the more or less decidedly tlrree- 
lobed character of the leaves. Side by side with it we should 
place P. Ringoi, which lias ovate leaves not unlike those of the 
common Crab, but, they are felted with white down underneath. 
The fruit, isi about the size of a Cherry, but they are conical, 
surmounted 1 by the calyx and produced in clusters. Japanese 
Grab- is the name usually applied to this form. 
Those who like variety will find it in the: Black Grab, to: which 
the namei of P. melaniocarpa has been given. It must not be 
confounded, however, with P. melanoearpa of Willdenow, as 
that is only a form of P. arbutifolia. In all likelihood the 
Black Crab is only a garden form of the common Crab. In the 
same category may be placed a, number of others, such as John 
Downie, having large orange^yellow fruits tinted with red; the 
Reid Astraieham, or Russian Apple, having dark red fruits 
covered -with a fine bloom | and the White Astra chan, or Trans¬ 
parent, Crab- of Moscow, which has fruits of the colour of wax, 
and covered with a fine bloom. The Violet Apple is an old 
variety, but does; not seem to bo much known at the present 
day. The fruits: are violet, covered with a, rich bloom like a 
Plum. Alongside 'of this we should place the Dartmouth Crab, 
which ha.s fruits of the size of a Plum, rich crimson, and covered 
with a fine bloom. It, isi said to have been raised by crossing 
some of the common Crabs with Apple Devonshire Quarren- 
den, which would thus account for its remarkably rich colour. 
No doubt many of the ornamental Apples and Crabs were 
also raised in this- way. The highly coloured forms have also 
been, largely grown for the production of cider, most of them 
being very sour in character and unfit for table or dessert 
purposes. It is: even said that wild rabbits refuse to eat some 
of these cider Apples even when they fall upon the grass in 
places frequented by these rodents'. 
We cannot overlook the beauty of the- Red’ Crab (P. niedz- 
wetzkyana) which we mentioned a, short time ago,. The flowers 
and fruits are of an intense crimson:, while the young twigs in 
winter are notable for their rich reddish-purple colour, while 
the leaves have red veins in summer and deepen to reddish- 
purple in autumn,. 
Chrysanthemum W. Gooding. 
(See Supplement}) 
The fine bloom which we represent on this occasion 
measured 7 in. wide by 7 in. deep, so that the illustration is 
considerably under the natural size. The florets are broad, 
drooping, and after a time more or less interlaced with one 
another, and of a rich rose colour with a, silvery reverse. The 
latter, however, is: very little shown in, the bloom, and only 
occurs where the twisting at the tips of the: petals: occurs iii 
the later stages of the bloom. This was in perfection on 
November 2nd, and our illustration was taken two, days after¬ 
wards. It kept, in good condition! for many days afterwards, 
and seemed to, get larger, owing to the movement brought 
about by the continued growth of the florets. This seemed to 
affect not only those in the centre of the bloom, hut the rest 
of them asi well. Nevertheless, the rich rose hue: of the bloom 
was the dominant one till the last. 
The variety was raised by Mr. T. Bullimore,' The Gardens, 
Canons: Park, Edgwarei, N., and received a First-class Cer¬ 
tificate from the National Chrysanthemum Society on Novem¬ 
ber 2nd. We understand, however, that the variety has since 
passed into the collection of Mr. W. J. Godfrey, Exmouth, 
Devon, who will put it into: commerce. Mr. Bullimore is a 
very successful raiser, having received some awardsL from the 
N.C.S. last year, and the blooms were- prominent a,t various . 
shows during November. 
