OF NOVA SCOTIA. PREST. 395 



11^. Pritnus serotina Ehrh. Wild Black Cherry. 



A large tree, 15 ft. to 50 ft. hio-h, often used for cabinet work. 

 Bark rough and dark grey on trunk, with reddish-brown 

 branches, thin outside bark, and very bitter inner bark. Leaves 

 very oblong, tapering to a point, a little larger and thicker 

 than the leaves of the wild red cherry, dark green and shining 

 above, a little lighter and duller below, on leaf stalks nearly 2 in. 

 long. Berries in a long cluster, round, iVin. thick, purplish 

 black, pulpy, juicy, sour to slightly bitter but pleasant and 

 digestible, contains a single slightly oval hard seed. Ripens in 

 August. 



Found chiefly on rich intervales, Musquodoboit, Shubenac- 

 adie, and other valleys. Not very plentiful, though widely 

 distributed. 



15. Prwniis Virginiana L. Choke-cherry. 



A shrub 5 ft. to 10 ft. high, consisting chiefly of separate 

 stems from the same root. Leaves oblong, abruptly pointed, 

 3 in. to 4 in. long, dark green, sharply notched. Bark rough, 

 greyish-brown. Berries in a long cluster, crimson-brown or 

 nearly black, round, -u) in. to to in. thick, moderately sour, juicy, 

 astringent, pleasant, digestible, with single slightly oval hard 

 seed; arranged thickly and regularly to the number of 3 to 16 

 on long fruit stalk. Ripens in August. 



Growls around the edges of cultivated land, roads, intervales, 

 seldom found in uninhabited districts. Widely distributed, and 

 plentiful in the western counties ; scarce in the east except in 

 the older settlements and towns. 



16. Pyrus arhidifolia L. Choke-berry. 



A bush 1^ in. to 7 in. high, branching tough stalk. Bark 

 biownish-grey. Leaves oblong, pointed, flnely notched, thick, 

 dark green to brownish-green, smooth above and slightly downy 

 beneath. Berries deep reddish-purple or nearly black, with 



