CHERRY-TREES. 151 
tained considerable size. The fruit ripens in August; the 
seed should be thickly sown and the trees then thinned 
out, as they make excellent firewood. The seed should 
not be allowed to become dry, but be mixed with damp 
sand, and sown either in the fall or in the spring. 
WILD RED CHERRY. 
This tree grows to the height of from thirty to forty 
feet, with a diameter of from eight to twelve inches. It 
has all the good points of the black cherry, but is much 
inferior in size. ‘Lhe wood is of a light-red color and not 
inferior to that of the preceding species for cabinet-work. 
The wild red cherry springs up spontaneously wherever 
the country has been ravaged by fire. It is the only 
native species of cherry on which the cultivated cherries 
will grow and succeed if grafted on. 
Wild-cherry bark is said to have a tonic and stimulat- 
ing influence on the digestive apparatus, and a simul- 
taneous sedative action on the nervous system and circu- 
lation. The fluid extract is used in all cases where it is 
desirable to give tone and strength to the system with- 
out causing too great an action of the heart and strain 
on the blood-vessels. It has also been found useful in 
hectic fever, some forms of dyspepsia, and irritability of 
the nervous system. 
