TREES GROWING IN DRY SOIL. 



269 



JUNE-BERRY. 



SERVICE-BERRY. 



(Plate C XL VI.) 

 Ameldnchier Canddcnsis. 



MAY-CHERRY. 



FAMILY SHAPE HEIGHT 



Apple. Heady round-topped; 10-50 feet, or 

 branches, spreading. higher. 



RANGE TIME OF BLOOM 



New Found/and west- March-May. 

 ward, southward to Fruit: June, July. 

 Fla. and Louisiana. 



Bark: purplish brown; ridged. Bud-scales and bracts: sticky. Leaves: 

 simple; alternate; slender petioled; ovate, with at times, bristle-pointed apex 

 and rounded or slightly cordate base ; finely serrate ; dark green and dull 

 above, paler below and becoming glabrous at maturity ; thick. Flowers ; 

 white; large; growing in terminal, loose racemes and appearing before the 

 leaves. Calyx : five-cleft. Corolla ; of five almost linear petals notched at the 

 apex. Stamens : numerous. Pistils; numerous. Fruit: a small red or pur 

 plish pome; sweet; edible. 



Even to those, and there are perhaps many, that walk 

 through the woods and pastures without ever hearing the music 

 passing through the tree-tops and quivering in the insects' 

 wings, and whose eyes are never caught by the subtle unfold- 

 ings of spring, the white bloom of the shad-bush, gleaming 

 through the almost bare branches of other trees, must be an 

 event in the year. There is no passing it by ; it is one of the 

 spirits of nature that the dullest eye must see and admire. 

 Even the pink of its buds is an exquisite 

 tint. The fleecy white petals seem to wave 

 and beckon in the breezes as though to 

 attract the attention, and do so at a season 

 of the year when there is little foliage to 

 hide them from view. It is then that the 

 knowing ones sigh as with relief and feel 

 grateful that the spring is indeed on its 

 way. The winter has passed ; the shad 

 are running in the waters. All along the 

 shrub is a leader of the seasons. As 

 early as June its fruit becomes crimson, 

 and at the approach of autumn the leaves turn bright yellow. 



The Indians and birds seem to vie with each other in their 

 appreciation of the berries. Early they seek them. The 

 birds to enjoy a feast and afterwards to scatter the seeds, and 



Ameldnchier Canddensis. 



