DUAL PURPOSE 
fylo4Aje''u*Uf Gnabi 
BEARING BOTH FRUITS AND FLOWERS 
Flowering Crabs that are Absolutely Hardy in Minnesota 
For many years we have been interested in Flowering Crabs. We felt that at 
some future time a line of crabs would be introduced that would bear fruit as 
well as flowers. Our first crab of this kind was the Dolgo. We have added to 
this one as fast as we have found desirable kinds until we now have six beautiful 
Flowering Crabs which are absolutely hardy here in Minnesota and most of which 
bear good edible fruit. 
FLOWERING CRAB LIST 
BEAUTY. This crab comes to us from Prof. Hansen of the South Dakota Fruit 
Breeding Farm. Many people are looking for just such a crab at Beauty Crab. 
The tree is the most upright growing apple or crab tree we know. We have 
a specimen in our private garden that stands about 18 feet high with a limb 
spread of not more than 7 feet. In growth it resembles the Lombardy or Bob 
leana Poplar and will fit into a planting where either of these trees would. It 
is a tree one would like to plant against the corner of a house or as an sentinel 
or accent tree along the back line of the yard. Besides being a pretty tree, it 
bears great quantities of brilliant deep red crabs an inch in diameter which are 
beautiful on the tree and also make wonderful sauce. 
Tree form only, 2 to 3 ft., 75c; 3 to 4 ft., $1.00; 4 to 5 ft., $1.25 
DES MOINES. We consider this crab the horticultural wonder of our times. As I 
was riding about Des Moines several years ago with the late W. G. Dumont, 
who was at that time President of the American Peony Society, I admired the 
nice plantings about the city. During this drive we passed a yard that con- 
tained a big clump of Flowering Crabs. The trees were bare of all foliage, but 
to our surprise one of them was at that late date, February, still covered with 
a great crop of small crab apples. Mr. Dumont later procured cuttings from this 
tree and I began to propagate it. The fruit is round to conical in shape, and 
about three-fourths of an inch in diameter. It is of a dull red color on a yellow- 
ish green ground. The fruit is borne in such quantities as to almost hide the 
limbs. And most remarkable of all, if not picked from the tree it will hang on 
all winter. The picture of the fruit shown on this page was taken on the 12th 
day of January, 1938. 
2 to 3 ft. bush and tree form, 75c 
3 to 4 ft. bush and tree form, $1.00 
4 to 5 ft. tree form only, $1.25 
DOLGO. The Dolgo is known as the great dual purpose crab. The trees, which 
seldom grow over 12 feet high, are very shapely and neat in appearance and 
develop into a beautiful small lawn tree. It is extremely hardy and after it has 
attained its growth will last for many years. In the spring it is one solid mass 
of large white blooms, which are followed by a great crop of crab apples. 
These crabs are a brilliant red about an inch in diameter and an inch and a 
half long. The fruit is so brilliant in color and so abundant on the tree that 
it makes a wonderful ornamental sight. The fruit makes up into a jelly of the 
finest flavor and a beautiful red color. This crab is not grown for its ornamental 
qualities alone but it is grown commercially for the fruit which readily sells at 
Des Moines Flowering Crob 
Des Moines 
CRAB 
This is a truly horticultural 
novelty. The tree is of first de¬ 
gree hardiness. It is a tremendous 
bearer. The fruit is of good size 
for a crab and good to cook. 
If not picked the fruit will hang 
on all winter as shown in the 
illustration. 
People who wish to grow fruit 
for winter food for the birds 
should grow Des Moines Crab. 
A 10-ft. tree would produce many 
nushels of fruit that birds can 
feed on all winter. 
This picture is taken of a single 
branch of the tree. But if a pic¬ 
ture were taken of the tree now—- 
June 30, 1939—it would show the 
same even heavy load of fruit all 
over the tree. 
Dolgo Crab 
a big price. One of our customers from Washington, D. C., 
writes us: “The Dolgo, when in fruit, is the most beautiful 
thing I ever saw in the line of a flowering crab.” The 
Dolgo is now being planted in northern orchards for the 
fruit, which sells for high prices. 
2 to 3 ft., 65c each; 5 for $3.00. Bush and Tree 
3 to 4 ft., 75c each; 5 for $3.50. Bush and Tree 
4 to 5 ft., $1.25 each; 2 or more at $1.00. Tree Form only 
5 to 6 ft., $1.50 each. Tree Form only 
ELEYI. A new flowering crab from Europe that we have 
tried out and found very desirable. Many of the crabs are 
not desirable where one has a severe winter such at we have 
here in Minnesota. Eleyi has done so well with us that we 
are adding it to our list as most desirable. The flowers are 
single and a dark pink color. The fruit which follows is a 
bright red and very showy. The foliage in the spring is a 
peculiar red and very noticeable. 
2- to 3-ft. Bush, 75c; 3- to 4-ft. Bush, $1.00 
5- to 6-ft. Tree, $1.50 
FLAME. Th is is the sensational new flowering crab recently 
named and sent out by the Minnesota State Fruit Farm. 
It is a beautiful slender-limbed, very graceful, upright¬ 
growing tree. This small tree is especially attractive in the 
fall when every branch is literally covered with great ropes 
of its small brilliantly colored red fruit. Those who named 
it say the name is appropriate as the ripening fruit resembles 
one great flame of fire. It is also good for jelly and canning. 
Nice 4- to 5-ft. trees, $1.25 each; 2 or more at $1.00 each 
Tree form only 
HOPA. From a purely ornamental standpoint the Hopa is without doubt 
the most beautiful flowering crab that can be grown in the North. It is 
perfectly hardy here at Faribault and is hardy anywhere in our state. 
It develops into a beautiful, graceful, medium-sized tree that is an orna¬ 
ment anywhere it may be placed. The bark is a rich dark blackish red. 
The buds and foliage are noticeable reddish purple, and the tree when 
in bloom is covered with large single deep rose-colored blossoms which 
continue long on the tree to be followed by quantities of small reddish 
fleshed attractive fruit which makes a good jelly. 
2 to 3 ft., 75c; 2 or more trees at 60c. Bush and Tree forms 
3 to 4 ft., $1.00; 2 or more at 85c. Bush and Tree forms 
4 to 5 ft., #1.25 each. Bush and Tree forms 
RED SILVER. A remarkable new lawn tree, red from top to bottom in 
bark, tree, and leaf. The silver refers to the delicate silver on the under 
side of the leaves. This blending of a beautiful dulbmaroon'red and 
silver makes a remarkable combination throughout the season. The 
somewhat cut'leaf character of the leaves adds to the striking beauty of 
this unique tree. The leaves fade but slightly during the heat of the 
summer. Not only is the tree red, but the blossoms are the reddest of 
any we have ever seen on a flowering crab. The buds are red, a rich 
dark red, and the blossoms when they open, are just as red as the buds 
Most so'Called red'flowering crabs are really pink, but Red Silver is 
really red. The tree is very hardy here with us and in our opinion is 
the best bv far of all the red'flowering crabs. Purely ornamental. 
3 to 4 ft., 51.00: 4 to 5 ft., 51.25; 5 to 6 ft., 51.50 
A 3 . MORSE COMPANY. HORTICULTURAL PRINTERS. ST. JOSEPH MICH 
