430 Select Plants for Industrial Culture and 



enemy in a common ladybird-beetle, Leis conformis [C. French]. 

 The necessity of reducing the genus Amygdalus to that of Prunus 

 was indicated in 1812 already by Stokes (Bot. Mat. Met. in. 101) 

 and in 1813 by F. G. Hayne (Arznei-Gewaechse iv. 38). 



Prunus paniculata, Thunberg. (P. Pseudo-Cerasus, Lindley ; P. Puddum, 

 Roxburgh.) 



The " Sakura " of Japan, extending to Upper India. A large 

 shady tree, its stem attaining two feet in diameter, charming to view 

 when bearing its profusion of flowers. The fruit is of the size of 

 small cherries and of pleasant and refreshing taste, though never 

 quite sweet [Wallich]. It is this tree which supplies mainly the 

 wood so extensively required for xylography in Japan [Dupont]. 



Prunus serotina, Ehrhart. 



The Black Cherry-tree of Eastern North- America. Of compara- 

 tively quick growth. In Virginia and Alabama the tree attains a 

 height of about 100 feet, with a stem 4 feet in diameter ; it prefers 

 rich porous soil in the upper parts of valleys. Fruit slightly bitter, 

 but with a pleasant vinous flavour ; wood compact, light, easily 

 worked, not liable to warp [Sargent], very valuable for cabinet- 

 and sash-makers [A. Gray] ; of a pale-red colour, dense, fine-grained ; 

 when polished as beautiful as mahogany-wood [Robb and Shn- 

 monds]. Will live on the poorest soil, and even within the salt- 

 spray of the coast. Readily raised from seeds and transplanted, not 



t succumbing under rough usage [Sargent]. Not infested by 

 caterpillars [Fernow]. Bark particularly valuable in medicine [Dr. 

 Porcher], 



Prunus spinosa, Linn4. 



The Sloe or Blackthorn. Wild in many parts of Europe. Indi- 

 genous in Norway to lat. 60 8' ; but it will endure the winter 

 even to lat. 67 56' [Schuebeler]. Hardly at all liable to be attacked 

 by insects. With its flowers it is one of the earliest plants to 

 announce the spring. Its tendency to throw out suckers renders the 

 bush less adapted for hedges of gardens than of fields, but these 

 suckers furnish material for walking-sticks, much liked on account 

 of their dark bark. The small globular fruits can be made into 

 preserves. Perhaps the fruit of some of the species from Eastern 

 Asia, California and tropical America may be improved by horticul- 

 tural skill. The sloe and others might with advantage be naturalised 

 on forest-streams. 



Prunus subcordata, Bentham. 



Wild Plum of California. A shrub with pleasantly acid autumnal 

 fruit, which is reddish and nearly an inch long [Prof. A. Gray]. 

 Perhaps capable of cultural improvement. 



