72 
THE XATTOXAL XURSERYAJAX 
CRATAEGUS AT THE ARNOLD ABORETUM 
Tliree s])e(‘ies, at least, of Ilawtlionis show tlieiv 
<*Teatest beauty in early XYveinber. These si)eeies 
are vordata, C. niddn and (\ pvr.si.stviis. The 
bi'st of these plants, the so-called \Vashin^i»doii Thorn, 
is a narrow, rather slender tree which in favorable 
sithations grows to the height of twenty or thirty 
feet. The leaves are nearly triangular in outline, of 
niedinni size and very lustrous. The flowers, which 
oi)en about the middle of dune, are small, creamy 
white, and are produced in small, (‘ompact hut very 
numerous clusters; these are followed by small, scar¬ 
let, shining fruits which ripen late in October and re¬ 
main on the trees without change of color until the 
s])ring. As the fruit assumes its bright color the 
leaves turn gradually to brilliant shades of orange 
and scarlet. This tree, therefore, which is much less 
beautiful when it is in flower than many other Haw¬ 
thorns, is su]‘i)assed in the late autumn hy few niem- 
hers of the genus, (^rdfavf/ii.s cordata is a native of the 
southern A])])alachian region from Vii*ginia to Ala¬ 
bama, and is also ahundant in southern IMissouri. 
Formerly much cultivated as a hedge ])lant in the 
middle states, it is now si)aringly naturalized in east¬ 
ern Pennsylvania and in Delaware. The largest 
l)lants of this Hawthorn in the Arboretum are on the 
side of the P)ussey Hill Overlook, and there is a good 
])lant on Hickory Path near Centre Street, (dritacfiu.s 
iiitidd is a native of the bottom-lands of the Miss- 
issi]^])i River in Illinois o])posite the city of St. Louis, 
and is a larger tree of entirely different habit. The 
branches are wide-spreading and slightly pendnlons, 
and form a large, rather o])en, round-topped head. 
The leaves are narrow, long-pointed and very lus¬ 
trous, and, as is often the case with American Haw¬ 
thorns, those at the ends of the branches are usually 
two or three times larger than the leaves on fertile 
branchlets. The flowers are ])ure white, of medium 
size, and produced in very nnmerous clusters which 
cover the u])])er side of the branches. The scarlet 
droo])ing fruit, which is also of medium size, ripens 
late just as the leaves turn orange and scarlet. In 
habit, in brilliancy of foliage, in its autumn colors, 
and in its abundant flowers and showy^ fruit Craf- 
(icijiiH iiitida is one of the handsomest of the American 
Hawthorns which has grown to a large size in the 
Arboretum. There are several good s])ecimens of 
this tree on the bank on the east side of the Shrub 
Collection. Credecg/es' pcr.s'/.sgca.s- retains its leaves 
which are now as green as they were at midsummei', 
after those of all the other Hawthorns have fallen, 
and the crimson fruit remains witbout change of 
color on the branches until late in the winter, making 
this tree the most conspicuous of all the winter-fruit¬ 
ing ]flauts which have yet proved hardy in Xew Eng¬ 
land. This tree in habit and in the sha]')e and general 
a])pearance of the leaves resembles some of the Cock- 
spur Thorns of eastern North America. Raised at 
the Arboretum from seeds sent from the Paris IMus- 
eum, its native country is still unknown. Xo plant at 
all like it has been found in the United States, al¬ 
though it is certainly a species of the Xew AVorld. 
The fact that it retains its leaves so late in the au¬ 
tumn indicates a southern origin, and, if it is not a 
hybrid, it is ])ossible that it may still be found in 
some of the elevated valleys of central IMexico. IRd 
whatever its origin, this is a tree of perfecd hardiness 
and excei)tional ornanientjd value. The largest plant 
in the country" and the ty"])e of the s])ecies can be seen 
among several large Hawthorns at the foot of the 
bank on the parkway" near the Forest Hills entrance 
of the Arboretum, where it can be easiH recognized 
as it is now the only- plant in this collection with per¬ 
fectly" green leaves. Here, too, are several good 
plants of Cratacf/us nitida. 
LEAD ARSENATE FOR SPRAYING 
How to prevent what is estimated by" experts as 
more than a quarter of a billion dollars’ annual 
damage to the croi)s of this country- by" insects and 
germs is a ])robleni which is engaging, as never be¬ 
fore, the attention of horticulturists, fruit growers 
and farmers. 
It is accepted that the best method, so far discover¬ 
ed, is that of destroy-ing the pests by" means of judi¬ 
cious spray-ing with Lead Arsenate. 
This reliable and economical insecticide is now em- 
ploy-ed with most satisfactory- results by- leading en- 
domologists and growers, and its use is steadily- on 
the increase thronghout the country-. 
Care must be taken, however, to see that the poi¬ 
son is of full strength and properly^ combined. 
Such an article is that of the P-W-R brand, guar¬ 
anteed under the insecticide act of 1910 by- the manu¬ 
facturers 
Powers-Weightman-Rosengarten Co. 
Philadel]fliia, Xew York, St. Louis 
It is sup])lied in both paste and powder form, at 
lowest ruling prices, by- first-class wholesale drug 
hoiTses, drug stores and seed houses throughout the 
United States. 
A SUPERB CATALOGUE 
STARE Bros. Nurseries & Orchards Company^ 
Louisiana, jMo., IL S. A., have begun the Xew Year in 
a very- optimistic effort in catalogue distribution. 
An advance edition, de Luxe, (Centennial Fruits) 
pp/o by- 9 inches wide, inner cover of Japanese hand¬ 
made pa])er. Every- page a color plate illustrating 
their fruits in full size. It is beautifully- gotten up 
and is a fine sainjfle of the printer’s art and should be 
an A Xo. 1 salesman. 
The subject matter gives accurate descriptions 
telling all the good points, also the weaknesses of the 
varieties listed, together with half-tones of bearing 
trees, etc. 
