DECIDUOUS TREES. 111 
Prunus. (Plum and Cherry.) 
This genus contains many species, among which are the 
Wild Plums, both of the Northern and Southern States, 
besides a number of species of the Wild Cherry. Among 
them all there is but one species that grows to a sufficient 
size to be of any considerable value as a forest tree. 
Prunus sERoTINA.—Leaves oblong, taper pointed, ser- 
rate, shining above; flowers in long racemes, white; fruit 
purplish black, sweet, slightly bitter; tree of large size; 
wood fine-grained, much used by cabinetmakers ; common 
almost everywhere at the North; seeds ripen in summer 
and should be sown immediately, or in autumn at the 
farthest, as they are easily destroyed by drying; tree 
grows rapidly, but requires many years to become of suf- 
ficient size to be of much value except for fuel, and for 
this purpose there are many other trees that are far better. 
The Wild Cherry is infested by the tent-worm more than 
any other tree, and its cultivation should be discouraged at 
the East, unless stringent laws are passed compelling every 
landowner to exterminate the worms which may now be 
seen on every Wild Cherry tree in forest and fields as well 
as on the apple-trees. 
Pratanus. (Buttonwood.) 
A well-known tree of the largest size. In some parts of 
the West, hollow trees of this kind were found by the 
early settlers of sufficient dimensions to shelter a whole 
family and make quite a comfortable habitation for them- 
selves and stock. Very large specimens are still to be 
seen along our Western rivers, most of them being hollow. 
