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SERVICE-BERRY, OR SERVICE-TREE 



{Amelanchier canadensis Medic.) 



THE service-tree, also known as service-berry and 

 locally as "sarvis," is found throughout the State 

 but attains its best development on the mountain 

 slopes. It is a small tree, 20 to 50 feet high and 

 6 to 18 inches in diameter, with a rather narrow, 

 rounded top, but is often little more than a shrub. 

 The bark is thin, ashy gray, smooth on the branches 

 and upper part of the stem, and breaking into shal- 

 low fissures on the 

 short trunk. 



The leaves are alter- 

 nate, slender - stalked, 

 ovate, pointed, finely 

 toothed, 2 to 4 inches 

 long, purplish brown 

 until nearly mature, 

 then becoming a light 

 green, and early cov- 

 er e d with scattered 

 silky hairs. 



The white flowers ap- 

 pear in erect or droop- 

 ing clusters in early 

 spring, before or with 

 the leaves, making the tree quite conspicuous in the 

 leafless or budding forest. 



The fruit is sweet, edible, rounded, dark purple 

 when ripe, one-third to one-half an inch in diame- 

 ter, ripening early in June. Birds and other deni- 

 zens of the forest are very fond of the fruit, and 

 men have been known to cut down and destroy 

 the trees to gather one good crop of fruit. 



The wood is heavy, exceedingly hard, stnong, 

 close-grained and dark brown. It is occasionally 

 used for handles. This is a desirable ornamental 

 tree and should be planted for this purpose and 

 to encourage the birds. 



SERVICE-BERRY, OR 



SERVICE-TREE 

 One-half natural size. 



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