BIRD CHERRIES -1 1 



of tlit* world. The chief historic representative of tins 

 class is the Padus or l>inl cherry {Prunus Padus of 

 the old World, <>t' which our choke cherry {Prunus 

 Virginiana) \^ the occidental congener. There are 



« asional forms of the Padus which bear fruit of 



some merit, bul they are wretchedly inferior to the 

 improved forms of the umbellate -flowered or garden 

 cherries. Now and then one finds a choke cherry 

 bush which bears more pulpy and more pleasant- 

 tasted fruit than is the wont of the species, bul even 

 these variations offer little temptation to the cultiva- 

 tor. The choke cherry is cultivated for ornament, 

 however. It is scarcely inferior U<v thai purpose 

 to its old World congener {Prunus Padus), although 

 its flowers are Bomewhal smaller than in thai species, 

 and they are also a few days earlier. If grown as a 

 lawn tree where a symmetrical development can be 

 secured, the choke cherry, both in bloom and in 

 fruit, is .in attractive object. Although rarely more 

 than a large tree-like bush, the choke cherry is often 

 confounded with the wild black cherry, )>ur it is 

 readily distinguished l>> the very sharp small teeth 

 of the leaves. The fruit of the choke cherry is 



commonly red, l>ut amber-fruited plants ar asion- 



ally found.* 



The choke cherry is undoubtedly capable of Borne 

 improvement under cultivation. Even in a wild Btate, 

 the fruit is capable of yielding acceptable jelly. 1 

 Ameliorated varieties of the choke cherrj are occa 

 sionall} described, bul there is a suspicion thai 



\ W.i i.; 



