504 NEW ENGLAND TREES IN WINTER. 



SOUR CHERRY 



Pie or Morello Cherry. 



Primus Cerasus L. 



HABIT A small tree 20-30 ft. or less in height with a trunk diameter 

 of 10 or 12 inches; with stout spreading branches and more or less 

 drooping branehlets forming a broad, low, rounded head. 



BARK Similar to that of the Sweet Cherry, but the outer smooth 

 bark sooner peeling back and exposing the roughened inner bark. 



TWIGS Slender, otherwise resembling twigs of Sweet Cherry. 

 IiEAF-SCARS Similar to those of the Sweet Cherry. 



BUDS Similar to those of the Sweet Cherry but smaller and appa- 

 rently more frequently clustered toward the ends of long shoots. 

 Compare the twig photographs of the two species. 



FRUIT Similar to that of Sweet Cherry but flesh tart. 



COMPARISONS The Sour Cherry differs from the Sweet Cherry in its 

 spreading habit of growth, its more slender twigs and smaller buds. 

 Compare plates of the two species. From the native Wild Black and 

 Choke Cherries the cultivated Sweet and Sour Cherries are distinguished 

 by the short fruit spurs; from the Wild Red Cherry by their stouter 

 twigs and buds and absence of a bud cluster at the tip of long shoots. 



DISTRIBUTION A native of Europe, in this country cultivated for its 

 fruit in several improved varieties such as the Amarelles, Early Rich- 

 mond, Montmorency, etc. and the Morellos, Louis Philippe, etc. and in 

 some places escaped from cultivation. 



WOOD Similar in appearance and uses to that of the Sweet Cherry 

 from which it is not distinguished by wood workers. 



