The Trees and Shrubs of Hingham. 143 



the westerly slope of Peek's Pasture, near the water, and prob- 

 ably grew formerly all along' our beaches and shores. It may 

 possibly be found now in some such localities, although it has be- 

 come very rare. The best specimen known to have been lately 

 standing, was growing a few years since near the steamboat- land- 

 ing on Summer Street. It has unfortunately been destroyed. 



The American Red Cherry (Primus Pennsylvanica, Li.) grows 

 in nearly every part of the town. It is a low tree, distinguished 

 by its red bark, small, red, translucent fruit, and narrow leaves, 

 tlie two semi-blades of which double toward one another, forming 

 an angle with the midrib. The flowers of this species in favorable 

 locations are very large and showy, and their beauty ought to lead 

 to its cultivation as an ornamental tree. 



Bullace Plum (Prunus spinosa, L. var. insititia). This is a 

 variety of the Sloe or Black Thorn, being a shrub with thorny 

 branches, sharply serrate, ovate-lanceolate, somewhat pubescent 

 leaves. It is very rare in Hingham, having been found on Weir 

 River Lane. 



The Choke Cherry (Primus Virginiana, L.) is also common. 

 It is a shrub or low tree, distinguishable from the Black Cherry by 

 the peculiar serratures of the leaf, which are fine, sharp, and bend 

 forward toward the apex. Its flowers also, are larger and more 

 showy, and the very astringent property of its conspicuous and 

 handsome fruit is familiar to every one. 



The Black Cherry (Primus serotina, Ehrh.) is found every- 

 where in Hingham as a low shrub, as well as among our largest 

 and finest trees. It grows to an immense size, although the 

 wholesale destruction of our forests and individual trees has 

 unhappily left but \ery few specimens of even respectable dimen- 

 sions in this region. 



Of the Spiraeas, the Meadow Sweet {Spiraea salicifolia, L.) and 

 Hardhack or Steeple Bush (Sph-cea tomentosa, L.) are beautiful 

 denizens of our meadows. The Meadow Sweet grows sometimes 

 to the height of six feet, and its fragrant white or rose-tinted 

 blossoms and pretty delicate foliage make it an ever welcome 

 midsummer and fall flower. Its cousin, the Hardhack, is one of 

 our most common plants in low grounds, its tapering spike, cov- 

 ered with rose-colored bloom, showing all along fence-rows and on 

 hummocks in the meadows. 



Wild Red Raspberry (Eubus strigosus, Michx.). Common at 

 rocky roadsides and in clefts of rocks. A plant hard to distin- 

 guish from the Thimbleberry, except when in fruit. 



Thimbleberry (Rubus occidentalism L.). Common everywhere 

 in fence-rows and thickets. The fruit purplish-black, while that 

 of the Raspberry is red. The stems are covered with a heavier 

 (bluish-white) bloom than those of the Raspberry. 



Common High Blackberry (Rubus villosus, Ait.). This plant 

 is very common, the coarse, thorny stems reaching a height of 



