1914] The Ottawa Naturalist. 175 



MEETING OF THE BOTANICAL BRANCH. 



February 14th, at the home of Mr. A. E. Attwood, the 

 following members present: L. H. Newman, N. Criddle, J. 

 Dicksom R- B. Whyte, C. J. Tulley, Dr. Blackadar, W. T. 

 Macoun, A. E. Attwood, J. R. Fryer. 



Mr. W. T. Maeoun led in a discussion of the subject, "The 

 Wild Fruits of Canada," describing many forms, especially 

 those which give promise of economical usefulness. 



Apple Two species of wild apple growing in Canada were 

 mentioned Pyrus coronaria (American Wild Crab Apple) and 

 Pyrus rivularis, a western species. The former is the poorest 

 we have and not much vise is likely to be made of its fruit. A 

 double-flowered variety of a species closely related to this, 

 known as Bechtel's Crab, blooms at the end of May, and its 

 flowers are so large and fine that it would make a beautiful 

 ornamental tree. The tree may be obtained by grafting or 

 budding. 



Plums Four species were referred to Prunus nigra, 

 P. amezicana, P. pumila (sand cherry) and P. maritima (Beach 

 plum). Prunus nigra is fotind from Newfoundland to Manitoba 

 along the Great Lakes. It is a very tough tree and is not broken 

 down by heavy snowfalls. In this respect it is in contrast to 

 P. americana. The fruit of nigra is all red, or all yellow, or red 

 on one side and yellow on the other. Its skin is soft and dis- 

 solves easily. The period of ripening is early and lasts about a 

 month. There is probably a great future for P. nigra. These 

 trees are practically self-sterile, so -that it is necessary for two 

 or more individuals to grow together. P. pumila bears some 

 very good fruit and some that is of no use. P. maritima has not 

 as vet proved to be of any value. 



Cherry Prunus serotina (Wild BlackCherry), P. virginiana 

 (Choke Cherry) and P. pennsylvanica (Bird Cherry) were men- 

 tioned. P. serotina is a large tree, the main value of which is in 

 its wood. The fruit has a strong and a trifle bitter taste. P. 

 virginiana grows as far north as latitude 62. The fruit of this 

 plant varies tremendously. Some bushes bear fine fruit, others 

 very poor. P. Pennsylvania grows far north and as far west as 

 British Columbia. Its fruit is small, but varies somewhat in 

 size and has a fine acid flavour. It is used for stock on which 

 ordinary cherries are grafted. 



Grape Vitis vulpina grows wild in Manitoba, and there 

 are great possibilities of developing from it a grape which will 

 be useful as fruit to the western provinces. Vitis labrusca (Fox 



