XXVI. ROSA. CEJE I CE'RASUS, 



89 



472. Cerasus Mahaleb. 



the common wild cherry, by which means the grafting season is prolonged; 

 and, lastly, of dwarfing the plants grafted on it. In British gardens, it is partly 

 used for this purpose, but principally as an ornamental shrub or low tree. As 

 in the case of other dwarf species of a genus which will unite to a tall robust- 

 growing species, the mahaleb, when grafted on the common wild cherry (C. 

 sylvestris), grows to a larger tree than when on its own roots. The mahaleb 

 will grow in any poor soil that is dry, even in the most arid sands and naked 

 chalks ; and, as it forms a low bushy tree which is capable of resisting the 

 wind, it may be planted in an exposed situation. When young plants are to 

 be raised from seed, the fruit is sown as soon as ripe, or preserved among sand 

 till the following spring, in the same manner as that of the cherry. Seedling 

 plants generally grow 1 ft. in length the first year, and 1 ft. to 18 in. the second. 

 The tree may also be propagated by layers ; by slips from the stool, taken off 

 with a few roots attached ; and by suckers, or by cuttings from the roots. 



? 22. C. FA X DUS Dec. The Bird -Cherry Tree. 



Identification. Dec. Fl. Fr., 4 p. 580. ; Prod., 2. p. 539. ; Don's Mill., 2. p. 515. 



Synonymes. Prnnus Padus Lin. Sp. 677., Hook. Brit. Flora, p. 220., Smith Eng. Flora, 2. p. 354. ; 



Bird Cherry, Fowl Cherry ; Hag-berry, Scot. ; Cerasier a Grappes, Merisier a Grappes, Laurier- 



Putier, or Putiet, faux Bois de Ste. Lucie, Fr. ; Hag-bier, Swedish ; Traubeden Kirsche, Ger. ; 



Ciliegio ramoso, Ital. 

 Engravings. Eng. Dot., 1. 1383. ; the plate of this species in Arb. Brit., 1st edit., \ol, v. ; and our 



^.474. 



Spec. Char., fyc. Leaves ovate-lanceolate, some- 

 what acuminate, thin, serrulate, with the teeth 

 rather spreading. Racemes long, leafy. Fruit 

 round, bitter. (Dec. Prod.} A low tree. Indi- 

 genous in most parts of Central Europe, and as 

 far north as Lapland. Height 12ft to 40 ft. 

 Flowers white ; April and May. Drupe black ; 

 ripe in July. Decaying leaves greenish yellow, 

 or reddish. Naked young wood purplish, with 

 white spots. 



Varieties. 



% C.P.I vulgdris Ser. C. Padus Dec., N. 

 Du Ham. v. t. 1. This kind has large 

 flowers loosely disposed upon long pe- 

 dicels, and black fruit. 

 * C. P. 2 parviflora Ser. (CEd. Fl. Dan., 



t. 205.) This has smaller flowers, upon 473 ' <* rasu * FUm ' 



shorter pedicels, which are disposed more densely ; and black fruit. 

 u 



