218 



WISCONSIN AGRICULTUEB. 



T^lie tree is also quite ornamental in its growth and ap- 

 pearance, and besides has the merit of attracting to it a constant 

 throng of singing birds. A few trees should be preserved in 

 the vicinity of every homestead in Wisconsin, if for no other 

 purpose, for that of attracting the feathered songsters near our 

 premises. Besides feeding on the wild cherries, they will de- 

 stroy for us immense numbers of insects, and thus prevent their 

 depredations. 



The flowers appear in May, and the fruit ripens early in the 

 summer. The figure shows the form and general character of 

 the leaf and fruit, both of the natural size. 



14. Crataegus coccmea, of Linnaeus.— Scarlet Fruited Thorn. 



This thorn, of which there 

 are many varieties, may be 

 known from the other species 

 by the large bright red globular 

 fruit; or, m its younger state, 

 by the leaves, which are round- 

 ish, ovate, thin, lobed, sharbly 

 toothed, and abrupt or heart- 

 shaped at the base. — Some bo- 

 tanists have ranked the varie- 

 ties as distinct species. It pre- 

 fers rich bottom lands, but 

 grows well in almost any kind 

 of soil. It is the most abundant 

 species of thorn in Wisconsin. 

 The flowers appear early in 

 May, and the fruit is ripe in 

 September. It is a small tree, 

 SCARLET FRUITED THOEN. usually witha regular roundish 



head, making a very handsome appearance. The Scarlet Fruit- 

 ed Thorn has been recommended very strongly for hedges, and 

 for screens to protect our houses, etc., from the cold of winter. 

 For this last purpose they must be trained to grow into a sort of 

 thin 'high hedge, the branches being twined together in one di- 



