Trees, Shrubs and Vines 



the more elegant surroundings of a lawn stocked with 

 foreign growth, is the familiar wild black cherry. We 

 are often surprised that it can make so brave a show in 

 polite society. It cannot fill a niche in a corner, like 

 the black haw, for it is commonly a sizable, sometimes 

 an imposing tree, a few in the Park being of such mag- 

 nitude as to make their blossoming a striking spectacle. 

 One of the finest is just north of the '^ Reading-room," 

 at the northwest corner of the '' Ramble." While the 

 black haw banks up well against other growths, afford- 

 ing a fringe of white to overlay the various greens, a 

 wild cherry demands a spot where it can monopolize 

 the view, a towering snowy mass upon the greensward. 

 It is not accounted one of the choicer species, for it has 

 the forest-flavor ; but a rugged, freely growing sort, that 

 for a large lawn is as satisfying as many that are more 

 pretentious. It does not pass from view after flowering, 

 for its shapely leaf grows more leathery and glossy as 

 autumn approaches, its fruit hangs thick in August, to 

 the great delight of the birds — and the deep crimson of 

 its October coloring is a conspicuous feature in the land- 

 scape. Moreover, it has a picturesque figure as it grows 

 larger. The bark is singularly rough and ragged, ap- 

 parently indicating an unhealthy tree ; doubtless a false 

 inference, as in every other respect it is perfectly 

 thrifty. The spicy fruit is not unpalatable, and is still 

 more agreeable in its fermented state to those addicted 

 to ' ' rum cherry. ' ' 



The European bird-cherry, standing at the extremity 

 of the Point, is quite as prodigal of its long racemes as 

 the black cherry, and surprises one with its beauty at 



86 



