On Crab Apples

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 88, 15 April 1939, Page 14 (Supplement)

On Crab Apples

WITH the possible exception of flowering cherries, there is no group of flowering trees which is so valuable as that which embraces the flowering and fruiting crab apples. The crab apple of the hedgerows, Pyrus malus, is by no means destitute of beauty, but for the garden it has been quite surpassed by some of its varieties and hybrids. Of varieties, the Red Astrakhan apple, P.m., var. astracaniea; with a long, stalk and bloom-covered crimson fruits, and P.m. pendula (usually called Elise Ratlike in gardens), handsome in flower and with yellow fruits, are probably the best, though any of the cider apples of commerce are well worth growing for their beauty of flower and fruit alone. The true Siberian crab, Pyrus baccata, is an exceedingly decorative tree, being handsome when in flower, but chiefly notable for the brilliant red globular fruits, the better part of an inch across and usually produced with the utmost prodigality. Pyrus prunifolia, with more elongated fruits, which are crowned with the persistent calyx is perhaps a hybrid between P. malus and P. baccata; at any rate, its wild habitat is not known. Like the true Siberian crab, a variable plant, it is, as a rule, less effective than that species when in flower, but it is handsome when the fruits colour. There is a weeping variety (pendula) and several yellow fruited forms, most of which are quite pleasant eating. Pyrus cerasifera is a beautiful crab: is said to be a cross between P. prunifolia and P. baccata. The fruits are purplish red and about the size of a cherry, and the tree is handsome when in flower. Pyrus Rongo is probably a hybrid, but was introduced to English gardens from Japan. This is quite the handsomest of the yellow-fruited crabs and among the most conspicuous of yellowfruited shrubs and trees. The flowers are blush when fully expanded, but th« rosy buds are very effective. Pyrus Scheideckeri is another of, doubtless, hybrid origin. It is alike remarkable for the profusion of its blossom and the. vigour of its growth. Theflowers are soft rose in colour and the fruits, which are not usually produced very abundantly, are yellow. Closely allied is P. floribunda; indeed many authorities think that P. Scheideckeri has floribunda "blood." When in bud, or before many of the flowers are fully expanded, this x is a .very beautiful (and well known) tree. The expanded flowers are pale pink, fading off almost to white, but the unexpanded buds are a beautiful clear rosy red. The variety atrosanguinea is an improvement on the type, being richer in colouring, though even here it is the bud colour which chiefly counts. The I yellow fruits are scantily produced and are scarcely ornanental. With purplish rose flowers, red-purple fruits and purplish N wood, Pyrus Niedzwetzkyana might well be called the Purple Crab. P. Niedzwetzkyana is a sufficiently beautiful tree, though one would hesitate to include it in a short list of ornamental flowering trees. Pyrus Eleyi is said to have been raised by crossing this species with P. floribunda. Its foliage and fruits have something of the purplish hue of P. Niedzwetzkyana, but it is much freer both in flower and fruit. The fruits are much smaller than in the purple parent; indeed they would easily pass muster as those of some variety of the Siberian -crab. Pyrus Eleyi seems destined to take its place as one of the indispensable of this valuable family. Pyrus angustifolia is a quite interesting species not so often seen in gardens as it well might be. The flowers, which are profusely borne, are pale pink, .fading almost to white. The doabl*

form, more often seen in cultivation as P. angustifolia flore pleno, is really a double form of closely-allied P. ioensis, which is distinguished by its persistently woolly foliage. Closely allied to these two specie* is P. coronaria, the American crab, which comes from the eastern States of North America. The whitish flowers are freely produced and exceedingly fragrant. -The scent is said to resemble that of violets, but that is a matter of opinion. Jt is later-flower-ing than most species, the blossoms last well into December and is therefore additionally valuable on that account. The comparatively large fruits are greenish-yellow and of little merit. This, for a crab apple, is a large-growing tree u.

and a valuable one where space can be found. The well-named Pyrus crataegifolia is a shrub or small tree. It blooms in December when the pure white flowers are very attractive. The reddish fruits are not unlike those of P. floribunda, but the foliage usually colours beautifully in autumn. Pyrus Parkmanni, or to give it its proper name P. Halliana, is erect in habit and has semi-double flowers. Pyrus Toriiigs has rosy flowers and resembles in many ways P. floribunda, except that P. Torings has small fruits. P. Sargenti forms a low shrub, smothered in spring with pure white flowers followed by globular fruits, which are bright red when ripe. Pyrus spectabilis is one of the most worthy of crabs grown for beauty of flower, although the yellowish fruits are attractive. This species grows into a large tree. ———— t

There are several hybrid fruiting crabs of great value for decoration, but of which the origin is uncertain. One of these is transparent, of which the fruits when ripe ate more or less translucent; the colour is yellow with a bright red flush on the sunny side. John Downie, with apple-like fruits, sometimes 2in across, is perhaps the finest of all both as regards flavour and appearance. The tree is naturally handsome when roped with fruits, but the fruits are then much smaller. The colour is a bright orange with a scarlet cheek. There is also the Dartmouth crab, with crimson fruits covered with purplish bloom, and Transcendent, with yellow and rosy-red fruits. Last but not least, there is Gorgeous crab. This latter has had somewhat of a meteoric rise in popularity and certainly is worth a place in any garden. It is a low-growing tree, seldom going much more than Bft or 10ft, but the growths are simply roped with fruits. It is most probably a variety of the Siberian crab (P. baccata) and as such can be listed as among the beet halfdozen varieties. The fruits of all these crabs have a value for jelly-making, but grown as ornamental trees or shrubs it is their decorative value , which is their chief charm.

In most cases they can be kept to email dimensions and. although liable to most of the diseases that attack apples, they suffer to a much lesser degree and usually one or two applications of spray are sufficient to keep them clean and free of disease.

♦ ♦ if ♦ Your Problem?

BIitKDALB writes: Enclosed please find twig of red tree tomato. The tree in question died when apparently in good health and bearing a good crop of fairsized fruii. The complaint started in brown spots on the leaf, which later turned yellow, the spots growing larger till the whole leaf was covered. The leaves and fruit then dropped off, the smaller branches shrivelling up and going deep brown. The ground in which it was growing was not good, being of a clay consistency. It is due to a fungoid disease. It can be controlled by spraying -with limesulphur. The disease must be anticipated and the spray applied as soon as the fruits set. Usually the tree does not die right out. but breaks away from the base. A damp, cold or wet position aggravates the trouble. A 'well-drained, comparatively dry soTt and a sunny, sheltered position are necessary. The lime-sulphur should be used at a strength of I—l2o and applied as soon as the leaves form in spring and again as soon as fruit has set.

CURING LEMON writes: —l. I nave been told that lemons with thick skins would be all right if picked carefully, wrapped separately, and stored in a case in equable temperature for a few weeks. My experience is that big, unshapely ones will not cure like the others. They become a soft mass of skin and pulp, but do not form a mould in the usual way. As the tree is producing more and more of this kind, I would be thankful to you for telling me how to grow healthy ones. Soil is heavy, but the tree is in such a position that water never lies on the ground. The tree is sheltered and has cropped well, but the fruit is causing a lot of waste of time in sorting. I put lib of white powder I got from a seedsman last year, and some time ago tried washing soda. I think there was a little improvement. I would be glad of your experience before doing anything. (2) Would it do to cut my hibiscus while the weather is warmt It needs pruning. (3) What is the treatment for geranium leaft 1. Thick-skinned lemons are often a result of leaving the fruit on the tree too long. Lemons, to be full of juice and thinskinned, should be picked as soon aa the skin begins to take on a yellow tint. Big, unshapely lemons will not "cure" properly. Curing lemons must be picked when of a medium size. On the other hand, the trouble may be with the tree, and may be hereditary. I do not know much about the result of an application of soda, but would advise you to try a dose of sulphate of potash—say, two or three ounces to a tree, and applied in August-September and again in March-April. Sulphate of iron, one ounce per tree once a year, say in April, is also a corrective. (2) Tou can cut hibiscus now. (3) The disease on the geranium leaf is rust. Spray with lime sulphur, 1-120, now and again In