238 OF THE SERVICE. 



Of the JVild Servvice'lVee, or Mountain-Ash, [Sorhus Aucu- 

 paria Linn.) Eng. Bot. t. 337. 



The Wild Service is sometimes planted in 

 orchards among fruit-trees ; but I would recom- 

 mend planting it in pleasure-grounds, plantations, 

 or on lawns, for ornament, where the different 

 varieties of the fruit have a beautiful effect in 

 Autumn ; and the fruit gathered, when full ripe, 

 and laid by some time to soften, has a very 

 agreeable acid taste. 



The seeds, when properly dried, may be sown 

 in Autumn in beds of light mould ; taking care to 

 keep them free from weeds in Summer. In the 

 following Autumn they may be transplanted into 

 beds, or quarters, (according to the number which 

 you may wish to plant,) and trained either for 

 dwarfs or standards. 



By selecting the largest and finest fruit many 

 varieties may be obtained from the seed ; they 

 may also be propagated from layers ; but those 

 who are fond of having a great variety, and 

 keeping the sorts true, should graft tliem. 



If trained up with straight clean stems. Service- 

 trees will grow to the height of tliirty or forty 

 feet ; in that case they should be planted among 

 forest trees, or in the back parts of large shrub- 

 beries. But those who wish to plant them as 

 flowering shrubs must head them down when 

 young, to make them throw out horizontal 

 shoots y they may then be planted among the 



