TREATISE ON THE CULTURE, &c. 115 



planted in shrubberies. The fruit, when ripe, maybe gathered 

 and put in the fruit-room ; letting it remain till nearly in a state 

 of decay : It will make a variety when served up to table among 

 the autumn fruits. 



The wood of this tree is very useful for making picture- 

 frames, toys, &c. 



When the trees are pruned, and where there are any de- 

 payed parts, the composition should be applied. 



Of the Wild ServicC'Tree, or Mountain Ash. 



The Wild Service is sometimes planted in orchards among 

 fruit-trees; but I would recommend planting it in pleasure 

 grounds, plantations, or on lawns, for ornament, where the dif- 

 ferent varieties of the fruit have a beautiful effect in autumn ; 

 and the fruit gathered, when full ripe, and laid by some time 

 to soften, has a very agreeable acid taste. 



The seeds, when properly dried, may be sown in autumn 

 In beds of light mould ; taking care to keep them free from 

 weeds in summer. In the following autumn they may be 

 transplanted into beds, or quarters (according to the number 

 which you may wish to plant), and trained either for dwarfs or 

 standards. 



By selecting the largest and finest fruit many varieties may 

 be obtained from the seed ; they may also be propagated from 

 layers ; but those who are fond of having a great variety, and 

 keeping the sorts true, should graft them. 



If trained up with straight clean stems, service-trees will 

 grow to the height of thirty or forty feet; in that case they 

 should be planted among forest-trees, or on the back parts of 

 large shrubberies. But those who wish to plant them as flower- 

 ing shrubs must head them down when young, to make them 

 throw out horizontal shoots ; they may then be planted among 

 the middling-sized shrubs, which will make a beautiful variety, 

 both when in flower and when bearing fruit. 



Wild service-trees* grow to a considerable size when pro- 

 perly managed, and are very much used by wheelers, &c. on 

 account of the wood being all, what they call, heart-wood. 



Of the Maple4eaved Service'Tree* 



This tree grows wild at Paddington, and in other parts of 

 England, and is frequently forty or fifty feet high, with a large 

 spreading head, making a fine appearance, and deserves a place 

 among forest-trees and in extensive plantations and gardens. 



* The fruit of the wild service is excellent food for game and other birds. 



