Trees, Shrubs and Vines 
the more elegant surroundings of a lawn stocked with 
foreign growth, is the familiar wild black cherry. We 
are often surprised that it can make so brave a show in 
polite society. It cannot fill a niche in a corner, like 
the black haw, for it is commonly a sizable, sometimes 
an imposing tree, a few in the Park being of such mag- 
nitude as to make their blossoming a striking spectacle. 
One of the finest is just north of the ‘‘ Reading-room,”’ 
at the northwest corner of the ‘‘ Ramble.’’ While the 
black haw banks up well against other growths, afford- 
ing a fringe of white to overlay the various greens, a 
wild cherry demands a spot where it can monopolize 
the view, a towering snowy mass upon the greensward. 
It is not accounted one of the choicer species, for it has 
the forest-flavor ; but a rugged, freely growing sort, that 
for a large lawn is as satisfying as many that are more 
pretentious. It does not pass from view after flowering, 
for its shapely leaf grows more leathery and glossy as 
autumn approaches, its fruit hangs thick in August, to 
the great delight of the birds—and the deep crimson of 
its October coloring is a conspicuous feature in the land- 
scape. Moreover, it has a picturesque figure as it grows 
larger. The bark is singularly rough and ragged, ap- 
parently indicating an unhealthy tree; doubtless a false 
inference, as in every other respect it is perfectly 
thrifty. The spicy fruit is not unpalatable, and is still 
more agreeable in its fermented state to those addicted 
to ‘‘rum cherry.’’ 
The European bird-cherry, standing at the extremity 
of the Point, is quite as prodigal of its long racemes as 
the black cherry, and surprises one with its beauty at 
86 
