THE CHOKE CHERRY 



THE Choke Cherry is much more likely to be found as a shrub than as a tree. In 

 the former condition it is very generally distributed over a vast range, extending 

 from the Hudson Bay region on the north to Georgia, Texas, and Mexico on the 

 south. When it takes on the tree-like form it rarely exceeds a height of twenty-five feet 

 or a trunk diameter of six inches. The tree is readily distinguished from the Black Cherry 

 by its reddish fruit and its broader leaves, with sharply-pointed serrations along their 

 margins, these points not turning forward as do those of the margins of the Black Cherry. 



The leaves of the Choke Cherry are dull green above and lighter below. In autumn 

 they turn reddish orange or yellowish orange, gradually changing to brown, with petioles 

 and midribs of a magenta or crimson color. After the leaves have fallen the young branches 

 have a rather characteristic appearance which enables one readily to recognize them : the 

 bark is of a grayish-brown or reddish-brown color spotted with lighter colored oval dots. 

 The buds are of good size, pointed and conical, with brown, smooth, imbricated scales. 

 The bark is bitter to the taste and has a characteristic odor. 



The Choke Cherries blossom in May and for a brief period take on a beautiful appear- 

 ance, on account of the white racemes of small flowers. These flowers are very similar to 

 those of the Black Cherry and are visited by great numbers of insects. They soon pass by, 

 however, and are succeeded by small green cherries that slowly develop through the sum- 

 mer until by the end of August they reach their full size and assume the dull red color 

 of maturity. These cherries are eaten by many birds, but have a curiously astringent 

 taste which has given the species its common name. 



The Choke Cherry is much more subject to attack by the black knot than is the 

 Black Cherry. It is almost universally disfigured by the strange excrescences of this 

 curious disease, which is so strong a menace to cultivated cherries and plums that it is 

 not worth while to attempt to plant this species for ornamental purposes. It is rather 

 desirable, in all regions where fruit-growing is to be encouraged, that the shrubs should be 

 exterminated from along the roadsides or in the pastures, where they serve as a propagat- 

 ing-ground for insect and fungus pests. A fact to be borne always in mind, however, is 

 that as the leaves of the newly cut bushes wilt they develop a powerful poison that often 

 causes the death of domestic animals that eat them when in the wilted condition. Conse- 

 quently the newly cut brush should always be piled where it cannot be reached by cattle. 



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