Primus Flowering Cherry. 



249 



in use for domestic purposes. Whether in flower or fruit, 

 this variety is always ornamental, and may be largely 

 planted to advantage. It can also be grown in bush form 

 as it often is where a smaller form is desired. P. pennsyl- 

 vanica is the American wild red cherry, and more nearly 

 resembles the European species than any other of our native 

 sorts. It is especially 

 noted for its reddish 

 bark, and the red fruit 

 which is very promi- 

 nent in autumn. The 

 flowers are white, and 

 so numerous as to 

 completely cover the 

 tree, but do not con- 

 tinue very long in 

 their perfection. It 

 is distributed in New- 

 foundland, and the 

 Hudson's Bay region, 

 and throughout the 

 Northwest, and was 

 introduced to Eng- 

 lish gardens as early as 1773, where it is still in use as 

 well as on the continent. P. serotina is another American 

 species of about the same height, and is a well-known 

 wild cherry, having white flowers in May and black fruit in 

 August. P. virginiana, commonly known as the Ameri- 

 can choke-cherry, is very much like the European bird 

 cherry in its general character, though not so tall a 



DOUBLE-FLOWERING CHERRY. 



