232 THE EVOLUTION OP OUR NATIVE FRUITS 



Gillett, Southwick, Massachusetts, as an ornamental 

 plant. 



Primus serotina, the wild black, or ruin cherry, 

 the wood of which is often used for cabinet work and 

 house furnishing, is planted for forestry purposes, 

 as an ornamental tree, and sparingly for its fruit 



Fig. 37. Wild black cherry. Prunus serotina. One-third size. 



(Fig. 37). Infusions of the bark are used for medi- 

 cinal purposes, and the fruit is often employed in the 

 manufacture of cherry brandy, or as a flavor to rum. 

 Occasional trees bear fruit of unusual size and attrac- 

 tiveness, but it is doubtful if any sustained attempt 

 will ever be made to develop it into a fruit plant. 

 As an ornamental plant, the wild black cherry pos- 

 sesses decided merits in its attractive habit, clean, shin- 

 ing foliage, striking white racemes and handsome 

 fruit. There are several cultivated varieties : pendula, 

 a weeping form, worked standard -high ; variegata, 

 with leaves more or less discolored with yellow ; 



