33 



Early ia May, or even in April, the shad bush 

 ( Amelanchier canadensis) shows its conspicuously white 

 heads in our swamps, notably the one at the east of the 

 railroad between Salem and Swampscott. One form 

 becomes a good sized tree, while another is always 

 shrubby ; but where they all go to in the summer is a 

 mystery, for one never sees them then. The fruit is 

 excellent eating, and the birds and bugs know it, for 

 there is seldom one left for man to taste. It is strange 

 that this ornamental and good fruit bearing tree has 

 never been improved for gardens by the horticulturists. 

 There awaits another native fruit for mankind as good as 

 any we now use. 



The hawthorns have been line this season — Mr. 

 Pickering's on Broad street, Dr. Lyman's on Washing- 

 ton square with its pink flowers, and still others. 

 Several old trees growing in a neglected state at the 

 rear of the old Derby farm, on Park avenue, were well 

 worth a walk to see. Those most generally cultivated 

 are varieties of the English hawthorn, (Crataegus oxya- 

 cantha) although some of the American species are 

 occasionally seen. Our low wild cherry (Prunus 

 virginiana), the natural food of the caterpillar, may 

 always be known at this season by its denuded branches. 

 There are some plants, however, opposite Mr. Allen's 

 on Clifton avenue, which were permitted to flower. 

 The wild black cherry (Prunus serotina), which the 

 eminent botanist. Dr. Charles Pickering, always main- 

 tained was an introduced tree in the county, is never 

 seen excepting in places where man has interfered with 

 nature. There is a very large tree among the ever- 

 greens just back of the corner of Dearborn and Felt 

 streets. 



