114 THE TREES OF NORTH CAROLINA. 



to 18 inches thick, with a straight trunk, the bark of 

 which has some resemblance to that of Sweet Gum 

 or of a young White Oak. The leaves are roundish 

 and heart-shaped, 4 to 6 inches long, 3 to 5 wide. The 

 flowers are yellow, the inside faintly streaked with 

 red, and nearly 4 inches broad. The cones are about 

 3 inches long and 1 thick. This is smaller than the 

 Cucumber Tree^ but is equally desirable in private 

 grounds as well for its symmetrical form as for the 

 beauty of its flowers and its luxuriant foliage. 



Service Berry. (Amelanchier Canadensis, Torr. 

 and Gr.) — Universally known in our mountains 

 under the name of Sarvices. In the Lower District 

 it is called Service Tree and Wild Currant. In the 

 latter section of the State, it is hardly more than a 

 shrub, and is common along branches and swamps. 

 In the former, it inhabits the shaded sides of the 

 mountains, and is 15 to 25 feet high. The fruit is 

 here much sweeter, more juicy and palatable, like 

 the Medlar^ than in other parts of the State, and 

 trees are sometimes recklessly cut down to obtain it. 

 It is purplish and about the size of some of our Red 

 Haws. This shrub or tree, when displaying its j)ro- 

 fusion of clustered white blossoms in early Spring, 

 is not without beauty, and is found enumerated in 

 the catalogues of some northern nurseries as The 

 Snowy Medlar. A name so promising has occasion- 

 ally led to its importation into the State for the 

 adornment of a garden or shrubbery ; but I have 

 never known it preserved over one season's exhibi- 



