128 TREES OF NEW ENGLAND. 



after the cherry falls ; petals 5, spreading, white, obovate ; 

 stamens numerous ; pistil one ; style single. 



Fruit. September. Somewhat flattened vertically, % inch 

 in diameter ; purplish-black, edible, slightly bitter. 



Horticultural Value. Hardy in New England ; in rich soil 

 in open situations young trees grow very rapidly, old trees 

 rather slowly. Seldom used for ornamental purposes, but 

 serves well as a nurse tree for forest plantations, or where 

 quick results and a luxurious foliage effect is desired, on 

 inland exposures or near the seacoast. The branches are 

 very liable to disfigurement by the black-knot and the foliage 

 by the tent-caterpillar. Large plants are seldom for sale, but 

 seedlings may be obtained in large quantities and at low prices. 

 A weeping horticultural form is occasionally offered. Propa- 

 gated from seed. 



PLATE LXV. PRUNUS SEROTINA. 



1. Winter buds. 



2. Flowering branch. 



3. Flower with part of perianth and stamens removed. 



4. A petal. 



5. Fruiting branch. 



6. Mature leaf. 



Prunus Avium, L. 

 HAZARD CHERRY. 



Introduced from England ; occasionally spontaneous along 

 fences and the borders of woodlands. As an escape, 25-50 

 feet high, with a trunk diameter of 1-2 feet ; head oblong or 

 ovate ; branches mostly ascending. Leaves ovate to obovate, 

 more or less pubescent beneath, serrate, 3-5 inches long ; 

 leafstalk about % inch long, often glandular near base of leaf ; 

 inflorescence in umbels ; flowers white, expanding with the 

 leaves ; fruit dark red, sweet, mostly inferior or blighted. 



