Cherries, Peaches, Plums 305 



than this tree, with its soft purple leaves, which retain their color better 

 than most purple trees, especially when properly pruned; a small tree 

 ( f rapid growth and good form. Not hardy in Ottawa. 



P. Amygdalus Stokes (274), Flowering Almond, is a tree twenty to 

 thirty feet in height, with several improved varieties, which are most 

 ornamental, light rose-colored showy jQiowers appearing very early in 

 March and April before the leaves arrive. There are also double and 

 white flowering varieties. 



P. Persica S. & Z. (275), the Common Peach, also in various vari- 

 eties, with double, rose-colored, crimson, red and white (versicolor) 

 delicate flowers. It is rather short-lived, unless closely pruned and 

 fertilized with wood ashes. 



P. Armeniaca Linn. (276) and P. Miime S. &. Z. (277), the Chinese or 

 Armenian and Japanese Apricots, are well worthy of attention for 

 ornamental purposes, not only because of their profusion of pinkish 

 flowers but because of their bright foliage, which, especially in the 

 young shoots, is tinged with red. They are very hardy and adaptive 

 to most soils, but must be kept in good shape by systematic pruning. 



Of native plums or sloes, two are attractive by reason of the very 

 early clusters of delicate white flowers and the black and yellow to 

 reddish fruit: 



P. spinosa Linn. (278), Black Thorn, the more northern, hardy, and 

 P. angustifolia March. (279) (Chicasa), Yellow or Chickasaw Plum, 

 the more southern, appear in form as shrubs more usually than trees, 

 with rather straggling but erect habit and thorn-like bri^nchlets. They 

 are not particular as regards soil, and shade-enduring, and hence useful 

 for under-planting. 



P. maritima Wangh. (280), Beach Plum, is also a hardy shrub, 

 valuable as a soil cover and for its usefulness in planting along sea- 

 beaches and other inhospitable situations. 



The only large tree of this group is our native widely distributed — 



P. serotina Ehrh. (281), Black Wild Cherry, native into Canada, 

 a tall, not very spreading tree, with roundish, open crown and often 

 drooping branchlets; is attractive in possessing beautiful white flowers 

 in racemes; is rather thinly foliaged, with a shapely, somewhat leathery 

 glossy leaf, turning deep crimson in autumn, and with a dark almost 

 black fruit, which in its fall renders the tree rather unclean and undesir- 

 able. An interesting raggedly-plated, dark bark with slender purplish- 

 red branchlets make a good winter effect. It is fit only for lawns of 



