And now comes Pyrus coronaria, better known as the sweet-scented crab, as a candidate for hedge favors. With every confidence in its sterling hedge-worthiness, I cheerfully recommend it, feeling satisfied it possesses all the requisite qualities the enterprising planter looks for.

With these modest encomiums, I thus hopefully present my odorous protege to the appreciative public. Though decidedly firm and unswerving in its ligneous standing, its hedging disposition, notwithstanding, is most excellent. And while sturdily maintaining its bushy character, will yield to no previous fruticose competitor, who may claim superiority in its line of usefulness. By habit, sturdy, by nature, healthy, it has a strong tendency to become very crabbed if maltreated. This denizen of the forest will successfully resist the insidious attacks of every kind of depredator, from bug to bovine. Neither will it give way to the juvenile transgressor or adult rascal who would unjustly tread upon its rights, as a steadfast protector of the alluring strawberry bed, tempting orchard, or seductive melon patch. Wherever it is placed, there will it remain as rigidly unflinching as did Napoleon's Old Guard at Waterloo, and like them, may die, but will not surrender to mortal marauder, who attempts to force a way through its strong opposing front.

Without losing sight of it as a hedge plant, I beg for a moment to call attention to its merits as an ornamental tree, as all who are entitled to be judges of sylvan beauty admit it is eminently so. And nothing native, or foreign, when planted in the shrubbery, lawn or pleasure grounds, is better calculated to please than is the comely little crab tree.

Well, as I at first began to praise it as a proper candidate for the hedgerow, knowing from experience it is a good subject for the shears, having seen it made positively impenetrable from frequent clipping, I must in conclusion say I consider it a most desirable plant for that purpose. And it can be as readily raised in vast quantities from seed as are hawthorns or apple trees; and as it makes a rapid growth when young, will soon form a strong, dense and beautiful hedge, if proper pains are taken with it. And I think I hinted at the delicious perfume of its rich, rosy, pink blossoms, which is not excelled by "Afric's spicy gales," or the exquisite fragrance of "the Gardens of Gul," or even the sweet odors of "Araby the blessed."