13. C. Virginiana, the Choke-Cherry. Leaven ovate or oblong lanceolate, acuminate, serrated, flat, very smooth, shining, deciduous. Racemes long, cylindrical, lateral. In all systematic books are named two American Bird-Cherries, C. rirginiana and C. Reath); to each of which are assigned characters that comprehend so little of a dis criminative nature that we find it impracticable to ascertain whether two species have really been before the writers on these subjects, or whether they have not distinguished under different names specimens of one and the same species. C. rirrsiniana with the above characters forms a large tree, according to Michaux. in the southern states, attaining from 80 to 100 feet in height. It is the Tawquoy-3Ieen ahtik of the Croat, according to Sir John Richardson, rising on the sandy plain! of the Saskatchewan to 20 feet, but extending as far north as the Great Slave Lake (62' N. lat.), where it attains the height of 5 feet only. Its fruit is not very edible in a recent state, but when dried and bruised it forms an esteemed addition to pemmican. Elliott adds that its timber is among the beet in the United States for cabinet makers' work. In this country It forms rather a graceful though roundish headed tree from 20 to 30 feet high, and its shining though deciduous leaves give it almost the appearance of an evergreen.
14. a serotina, the Late Bird-Cherry. Leaves obovate-laneoolate, acute, serrated, channeled, very shining, deciduous. Racemes long, cylindrical, lateraL What is thus designated in this place is a plant with something of the aspect of a Portugal Laurel, and as it flowers later than the last its fruit is not usually ripened in thin climate. It is principally distinguished by its leaves being more obovate, never flat, but always half-folded up, and with a more shining surface.
15. C. Capo(Um, Mexican Bird-Cherry. Loaves ovate-lanceolate, acuminate, serrated, flat, shining, deciduous. Racemes terminaL A native of the mountains of Mexico.
Section HI. Laurel-Cherries. Flowers growing in long Racemes, appearing with the Loaves. Leaves evergreen.
16. C. Caro/iniana, the Carolina Laurel-Cherry. Leaves oblong lanceolate, acute, serrated, and entire, evergreen. Racemes lateral, much shorter than the leaves. It is a native of Carolina, and a very
uncommon species in the collections of this country. It is said to bo one of the most ornamental of the trees of Carolina. Its leaves are very poisonous.
17. a lauro-cerasus, the Common or Broad-Leaved Laurel (cherry). Leaves oblong-lanceolate, remotely serrated, somewhat convex, pale green, evergreen. Racemes shorter than the leaves. This valuable and common evergreen, which now gives half their richness to the varied pleasure-grounds of Great Britain ; which is so hardy that no frost seems to affect it ; which is equally capable of resisting the greatest heat and drought of summer, and which will flourish either in the most exposed or the most shaded situations ; is a native of the country near Trebizond in Asia Minor, and was sent from Constanti nople to Ecluse in the year 1576 by the imperial ambassador Ungnad. Ecluse gives an interesting account of the difficulty he had in establish ing the first plant, which must have been transmitted at no small charge; for it is stated to have been six feet high, with a stem as thick as a man's arm. (Chesil, Historia Plantarum,' p. 5.) A variegated and a barren-leaved variety are known in gardens, but the original kind is the only one worth cultivating as an object of ornament. It is multiplied in the nurseries by layering, cuttings, and seeds. This species is remarkable for the abundance of hydrocyanic acid secreted in its leaves.
18. C. Luaitanica, the Portugal Laurel (cherry). Leaves ovate lanceolate, acuminate, concave, dark green, glandless, shining, ever green. Racemes lateral, longer than the leaves. A native of Portugal, and also found in the Canaries, where it is called Hixa, acquiring a height of 60 or 70 feet. According to some the Hixa is a distinct species ; Mr. Barker Webb found that plant on the Serra do Gerez in Portugal of the height just stated, while the true a Luaitanica was not above 18 or 20 feet high. This is leas hardy than the preceding; it is less easy to transplant, and will not grow so well under other trees; nevertheless it is one of the most useful of our naturalised evergreens. It produces fruit in abundance its England, from which it is readily propagated.