ARBORETUM ET FRUTICETUM BRITANNICUM. 



C. P. 3 rubra Ser. (Our fig. 473.) This has red fruit. It is the C. 

 Padus fructu rubro of Dec. and of Loiseleur; and, according to 

 Ait. Hort. Kew., 2d ed. p. 299., it is the Prunus rubra of mild. Arb., 

 237. t. 4. f. 2. 



X C. P. 4 bracteosa Ser. Padus racemdsus Hort. A very beautiful 

 variety, distinguished by its long racemes of flowers, with their pe- 

 dicels furnished with long bracteas at the points of the shoots, bv 

 which the latter are bent down, both when in blossom and when 

 the fruit is ripe, so as to give the whole tree a pendulous appearance. 

 A very handsome small tree or large bush. The leaves are finely serrated, 

 smooth, and somewhat glaucous ; and their scent, when bruised, resembles 

 that of rue. The flowers are of a pure white, in copious, long, terminal 

 racemes, making an elegant appearance in spring, but scarcely lasting a fort- 



474. Cerasus P&dus 



night. The fruit is small, black, austere, and bitter, with a large corrugated 

 nut. " Birds of several kinds soon devour this fruit, which is nauseous, and 

 probably dangerous to mankind; though, perhaps, like that of the cherry 

 laurel, not of so deadly a quality as the essential oil or distilled water of the 

 leaves." (Eng. Flora, ii. p. 354.) The tree grows rapidly when young, at- 

 taining the height of 10 or 12 feet in 5 or 6 years ; and, as it has a loose 

 head, and bears pruning, it allows the grass to grow under it. The wood is 

 hard and yellowish, and, in a green state, it has a disagreeable bitter odour 

 and taste ; whence the French name putiet, from puer. It is much sought 

 after in France by the cabinetmakers and turners, who increase the beauty of 

 its veining by sawing out the boards diagonally, that is, obliquely across the 

 trunk, instead of parallel with its length. The fruit, though nauseous to the 

 taste when eaten fresh from the tree, gives an agreeable flavour to brandy; 

 and is sometimes added to home-made wines. In Sweden and Lapland, and 

 also in some parts of Russia, the bruised fruit is fermented, and a powerful spirit 

 distilled from it. In Britain, the principal use of the C^erasus Padus is as an orna- 

 mental tree ; and few make a finer appearance than it does, either when in flower, 

 in April and May ; or in August, when covered with its pendent racemes of 

 black fruit. It comes into flower a little before the ornamental crab trees, 

 and about the same time as the 56rbus aucuparia and the A^cer julatanoides. 

 The bird cherry prefers a dry soil ; but it will not thrive on such poor ground 

 as the perfumed cherry. It will grow in almost any situation; but, to attain 

 a timber-like size, it requires the shelter either of a favourable locality, or of 

 adjoining trees. The species is propagated by seeds, which should be treated 



