WILD PLUM. 169 



height, and attractive when in blossom, it is little more 

 than the beauty of a day. The double-blossomed and red- 

 flowering varieties are even more conspicuous, especially 

 the former, of which the snow-white petals, elevated on 

 long and slender footstalks, are universally admired. 



The wild cherry chiefly affects a sandy soil and elevated 

 situation, and some of the finest specimens are found in 

 Hertfordshire. 



Wild plum-trees equally delight in a lofty growing- 

 place, and, when found on commons, are less injurious 

 to pasturage than many of their brethren. Garden 

 plums are mostly derived from them ; at first raised from 

 kernels, and afterwards preserved by budding or grafting 

 on plum-stocks. 



Cotton may be dyed of a rose-colour by the juice of 

 the wild fruit, combined with muriatic or sulphuric acid ; 

 and the bark yields a yellow dye. 



The medlar, indigenous in Britain, belongs to the same 

 class and order, and is most frequent in the south of 



