FLOWERING SHRUBS. 



119 



very astringent that^it causes a painful contraction of the throat if many 

 berries are eaten at one time, though some persons are not much 

 affected by them, and will take them freely without any ill consequences. 

 The bush is from eight to ten feet high, flowering abundantly and 

 forming a pretty object from the profusion of long, graceful, pendulous 

 racemes of greenish-white flowers which have an almond-like scent when 

 fully blown. The leaves also have a pleasant, aromatic, bitter flavour 

 like those of the Peach and Almond, and form a good flavouring, 

 resembling Ratafia ; when boiled in milk for puddings and custards one 

 or two are sufficient, and may be removed when the milk has boiled. 

 This flavouring is harmless and pleasant, and easily obtained. 



The Choke-Cherry never reaches to the dignity ot a tree like the 

 Wild Black and \\'ild Red Cherry of the woods, but forms a pretty 

 flowery shrub of straggling growth. It blossoms in June and ripens the 

 fruit in August. In both stages, of flower and fruit, it is very 

 ornamental, and may be introduced with advantage to the shrubbery — 

 but so tempting are the ripe berries to the smaller fruit-loving birds that 

 it is soon stripped of its rich crimson load of pendent fruit. The Cedar 

 or Cherry-Birds are sure to find out the bush and visit it in flocks till 

 they strip it entirely, leaving the ground below strewed with the berries 

 that have been shaken off : possibly the Ground Squirrels and Field-mice 

 thus come in for a share of the spoils. 



Prickly k.%\{. — Xanthoxyliim Anicricamiin^ (Mill.) 



This is a handsome shrub with glossy pinnate leaves, the valuable 

 qualities of which are hardly sufficiently known and appreciated by those 

 who know it only for its ornamental appearance, when the crimson cases 

 that envelop the black shining seeds appear in clusters between the 

 bright green leaves. The leaflets are in five pairs, with one terminal, 

 from an inch to two inches in length, serrated at the edges, pointed, of 

 a lively bright green, very glossy on the surface. The stem and branches 

 straight, covered with whitish grey bark ; the branches set with stout 

 woody prickles, which also extend along the mid-rib on the underside 

 of the leaves. The flowers are yellowish green, in close set clusters, 

 appearing before the leaves. The fruit is a round, hard, shining bead- 

 hke berry, on a little thready stalk, two in each pod, at first a bronzed 

 green, deepening to deep crimson when ripe, opening and shewing the 

 dark glossy seeds. I'he whole plant is highly aromatic, especially the 

 cases that enclose the seeds, which, when rubbed between the fingers, 

 emit a strong pungent odour, like the scent of Orange-peel. 



The root, bark, leaves, and fruit, are bitter, pungent and aromatic. 

 The root and bark are used in dyeing yellow : they are also used 

 medicinally in extract for Agues and Intermittent Fevers. 



