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Hackberry and Haws

The Nettle Tree, the Celtis, of the Nat. Ord. Ulmacea, (related to the elms) should be mentioned in the group of berries as its fruit, known in America as the Hackberry and Sugarberry, is edible and of most pleasing sweetness and aromatic flavour. It is at its best, like the persimmon, after frost.

The Hawthorn or Crategus (of the Malacea)-known in varying forms over the world: as the White Thorn or English "May," the Blackthorn, the Yellow or Summer Thorn-the Scarlet Haw; with yellow, orange, purple, or red fruit-is more useful than is generally known. The fruit varies in size and flavour, but there are a number of the haws which make a pleasing breakfast or dessertfruit, being used this way in the south of Europe and the Levant, and also in the manufacture of hawthorn liquor, an intoxicant, and as the basis of cookery concoctions, as tarts, proving their delicious possibilities. (The Viburnum prunifolium, of the Honeysuckle Family, related distantly to the elderberry, is sometimes called the black haw or sloe or stag-bush, though the two latter terms belong more properly to the Prunus spinosa. It has not the pleasing qualities of the hawthorn "haws." The Viburnum, however, is considered very valuable medicinally, being a nervine and tonic.) THE SERVICE BERRY (Malacee) The Service or "Sarvice" Berry, is of interest in a peculiar way to Americans, in connection with the Mormons, who have for it a real affection since in their earlier days, when hardships and privations were continual, the Service Berry provided sometimes their entire food. Even when this extreme condition did not prevail the Service Berry constituted a solid food value which Utah will not forget. The New International Dictionary gives perhaps the best and most concise description of what otherwise might be a confusing matter, so connected are various forms of the Service Berry or Service Tree. "Service Berry: A name given to several trees and shrubs of the genus Pyrus, as Pyrus domestica, and Pyrus torminalis, the various species of mountain ash or rowan tree, and the American Shad-bush. They have clusters of small, edible, apple-like berries. In British America the name is especially applied to that of several species of the shad-bush." "Shad-Bush: (Bot.) A name given to the North American shrubs or small trees of the rosaceous genus Amelanchier (A. Canadensis and A. Alnifolia). Their white racemose blossoms open in April or May when the shad appear and the edible berries (pomes) ripen in June or July, whence they are called June Berries. The Plant is also called Service tree and June Berry." Thus the connection is shown between the foreign Service Tree (of which the Sorb is a variety), the American Mountain Ash, Shad Bush, and Service Berries, and the romantic Scotch Rowan. The spotted fruit of the Sorb is improved by keeping, and in a mellowed state is regularly shipped to the London market from English country towns. This mature stage or over-ripeness is also necessary for the best flavour of the true Service Tree fruit (known as Service or June Berries in Savoy). A drink similar to cider is made from these berries and when the latter are dried and powdered they are valued as an astringent, used in curing diarrhea. The Mountain Ash contains a large quantity of malic acid, of which fact chemists often take advantage in the manufacture of the commercial form. The berries are available for food, as are those of the rowan, which are used in tarts, (and every other dish adapted to acid berries), in Scotland and in Europe. The Buffalo Berry (Sheperdia argenta) is a fruit particularly known in the West, used commonly as food. The names indicate something of its wild associations, and originated in the custom of serving it as a sauce with buffalo meat. Like the barberry it is tart and is used in much the same manner.