Prunus — Flowering Cherry. 255 



and stiff in habit, while others are spreading, short-jointed, 

 and crabby, and still others have willowy shoots which 

 lend themselves to various forms in which dwarf and pot- 

 grown specimens are often seen. Professor Georgesen says 

 that, as a rule, the earliest varieties in bloom are single, 

 and the large and double flowers the latest to appear and 

 remain the longest, though there are some notable excep- 

 tions to this. The flower and the leaf start at about the 

 same time, but the leaf grows slowly at first, and the trees 

 do not get green till about the time the flowers perish. 

 These are mostly white and are quite large, appearing the 

 latter part of April, and holding on well into May. Though 

 there are numerous varieties in cultivation, all of them 

 are charrtiing and much admired by foreigners as well as 

 natives. There has been some question as to how far 

 north these plants may be cultivated with success, which 

 is a question of much importance. Mr. J. G. Jack, having 

 experimented with some of the varieties at the Arnold 

 Arboretum, finds that they can be grown safely in the 

 New England climate, at least in the region of Boston. 

 But it is not to be doubted that they will succeed better 

 in the southern Middle States and in the West. There is 

 some question whether all varieties ascribed to this 

 parentage are genuine offshoots. 



Of the single-flowering varieties, what is known in 

 Japan as the ^anzan produces a plain white blossom which 

 is very fragrant and, in that respect, an exception to the 

 general rule. It is also an abundant bloomer, the flowers 

 being very late and persistent. It has been grown in 

 this country sufficiently to prove that it is adapted to our 



