42 
JUNE BERRY. 
and of Canada ; but it is most multiplied upon the Alleghany Mountains, 
and upon the elevated banks of the rivers which flow from them. In the 
Northern Section of the Union, it is called Wild Pear Tree, and in the 
Middle .States, June Berry ; which latter name I have adopted, because it 
is universally employed in the regions where the tree is most abundant, 
because it indicates that in maturing its fruit it is among the earliest treès, 
and because the Mespilus arborta is remote from all resemblance to the 
Wild Pear Tree. 
In, the vicinity of New York and Philadelphia, the June Berry appears 
to grow of preference in moist and shady situations, and along the margin 
of brooks and rivulets. In the Western' Country, it is found in the midst 
of the forest among the Oaks, the Walnuts, the Maples, etc. Here, also, 
it reaches its greatest height, which does- not exceed 35 or 40 feet, with a 
diameter of 10 or 12 inches. 
The leaves of the June Berry are 2 or 3 inches long, and alternately 
arranged. When beginning to open, they are covered with a thick, silvery 
down, which disappears with their growth, -and leaves them perfectly 
smo'oth on both sides. .They are of an elongated oval shape, of a delicate 
texture, and finely deriticulated. The flowers which are white and pretty 
large, are disposed in long panicles at the summit, of the branches, they 
blow’ in the beginning of April, and are succeeded' by small fruit of a pur- 
plishcolor and of an agreeable, sweet taste. This fruit, of which the 
largesttree rarely yields more than half a pound, is ripe in the beginning 
of June, before that ■of any other tree or shrub. It is sometimes brought 
to tfie market of Philadelphia, where it is bought only by children : I have 
also seen small quantities of it exposed in the market of Pittsburg. 
The trunk of the June Berry is covered with a bark resembling that of 
the Cherry Tree. Its wood is of a pure white, and exhits no difference 
between the heart and the sap; it is longitudinally traversed by small, 
bright, red vessels, which intersect each other and run together. This- 
peculiarity, which deserves the attention of Vegetable physiologists, is also 
observable in the Red Birch. 
The fruit of this tree is, in my opinion, too small and too scanty to reward 
the pains of improving its taste and of increasing its volume by long con- 
tinued cultivation ; but its early and beautiful, flowers entitle it to notice as 
an ornamental vegetable. 
PLATE LXVI. 
A branch with leaves and fruit of the natural size. Fig. J, Flowers of the 
natural size. 
[Dr. Darlington says that the fruit is considerably improved in size and 
quality by long culture.] 
