STUDIES OF TREES IN WINTER 



The black cherry is a valuable timber tree. 

 The wood is light, strong, and hard, and takes a 

 fair polish. It is used in cabinet making and 

 for the interior finish of houses. The bark of 

 the branches and roots is much used in medi- 

 cine, and the ripe fruit is used to flavor alco- 

 holic liquors. 



The meaning of the generic name, Prunus, 

 is unknown, but it is thought to be of Asiatic 

 origin. The specific name, serotina (late flower- 

 ing), refers to the blossoms of this tree, which ap- 

 pear in June, later than those of other cherries. 

 It is found from Nova Scotia to Florida, and 

 reaches its greatest size in the Western forests. 



Prunus virginiana, the choke cherry, and 

 Prunus peunsylvanica, the wild red, bird, or pin 

 cherry, are two small trees found more or less 

 frequently in the woods throughout the Atlantic 

 States. They are both distinguished from the 

 black cherry by their red instead of black fruit. 



The common sweet cherry (Prunus avium), 

 the common peach tree (Prunus persica), and 

 the common garden plum (Prunus domesticd) 

 all belong to this genus and are widely culti- 

 vated in the United States. They are small 

 trees with many varieties and are planted for 

 their fruit. 



The cherry was brought from Asia to Italy, 



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