Amelanchier. 177 



mental tree, from its profusion of blossoms early in 

 April, and from its rich autumnal foliage ; and even the 

 fruit is not altogether to be despised, either eaten by 

 itself or in tarts, pies, and puddings. The wood is white, 

 and it exhibits no difference between the heart and sap. 

 It is longitudinally traversed by small, bright red vessels, 

 which intersect each other and run together — a physio- 

 logical peculiarity which, Micheaux observes, occurs also 

 in the red birch." As might be expected of a shrub or 

 tree whose habitat extends from Hudson's Bay to the 

 Gulf States, and from the Atlantic to the base of the 

 Rocky Mountains, and possibly even beyond, it is per- 

 fectly hardy and full of vigor. It is sometimes of bushy 

 form, but more frequently appears as a small tree rising 

 from fifteen to thirty feet. Its pure-white flowers are dis- 

 posed in short racemes, and so numerous are they that 

 the foliage and branches are almost hidden from sight. In 

 autumn it is almost equally beautiful, its foliage taking 

 on bright golden-yellow tints, thus closing as well as 

 opening the season with a show of beauty. The fruit, 

 popularly known as the June berry, service berry, and 

 shad berry, is about the size of a currant, of purple 

 color, and agreeable to the taste, so that where the trees 

 are abundant it is often gathered as an article of food. 

 It matures in June or early July. The tree blossoms and 

 produces fruit while quite young, and it is no uncommon 

 thing for a specimen of but three or four feet to be heavily 

 laden, thus affording quick returns to the planter. A. 

 botryapium is given by Gray as a synonym, and by others 

 as the name of a variety. 



