254 CEKASUS SVLVESTKIS. 



witli a peculiar (liivour, wIumi j)erfoctly ripe. The nut or stone is oval or ovate 

 in iis form, linuly lullicrini: to the ll<'sli, and is very large in pro})ortion (o the 

 size oi" the I'nnt. which ripens in June or July. 



Variclies. Under this species are inchided the followinj? groups or races, 

 which conform with the arrangement in the " Nouveau Dii llamel," and in 

 Loudon's "Arhoretum nritannieum :"" 



1. (.'. s. AMAKA. liUlrr-fniilrd Wl/d Chcrnj-trrc, inchidiug tlie Merries of 

 England, and the Mirisiers of the French, with black or yellow fruit. 



2. C. s. JULIA.NA. The Julian M'i/d Chcrnj-trec. 'Vha fruit of this group is 

 red or black, early or late. It includes tlic tobacco-leaved guignicr, or geaii, of 

 four to the pound. 



3. C. s. HEAUMiANA. Helinct-sha})ed-fruitcd Wild. Cherry-tree ; Heauftiier of 

 the French. The fruit of this variety somewhat resembles that of the bigarreau- 

 tier, but is less firm in its flesh. 



4. C. s. DURAci.N'A. Jlard-fniited Wild Cherry-tree; Bigarreauticr of the 

 French, with fruit white, flesh-coloured, or black, and generally heart-shaped. 

 The trees of this race are planted for ornament rather than for their fruit, among 

 which, is that beautiful double-flowered variety, known in France by the name 

 of Mcrisier d Fleiirs duu/jlcs, or Merisier re?iu?iculier, and in England and Amer- 

 ica, Double french White. 



Geography and History. The Cerasus sylvestris is indigenous to many parts 

 of continental Europe, and is also considered by many to be so in Britain. The 

 first mention of this tree as growing in England, it appears, is by Gerard, in his 

 " Herbal," published in 1597, in which he particularly mentions the black wild 

 cherry, with fruit of "an harsh and unpleasant taste." M. Loiseleur des Long- 

 champs, in tiie "Nouveau l)u Hamel," states that, "though the wild cherry is 

 undoubtedly indigenous to France, yet it does not appear to have been so to 

 Italy ; and that even in France, only the Cerasus sylvestris, or merisier, is found 

 in the forests ; while the Cerasus vulgaris, or cerisier, is never found in an appa- 

 rently wild state in any country in Europe, except near human habitations." 

 From this he concludes that, although the merisier had long existed in France, 

 it probably had escaped the notice of the Romans, and even if they had discov- 

 ered the tree, they would have set but little value on its bitter, austere, and 

 nearly juiceless fruit. This 'species grows wild at Portella, on Mount J^tna, at 

 two thousand nine hundred and seventy feet above the level of the sea ; but not 

 lower, as the climate becomes too warm for it. On the Swiss Alps, at Chiir- 

 walden, where, it is said, no other kind of stone-fruit will grow, it arrives at 

 maturity, at an elevation of three thousand nine hundred and sixty-four feet. 



The largest specimen of the Cerasus sylvestris on record, is in Gloucestershire, 

 England, standing on the northern extremity of the Cotswald Hills, on the estate 

 of the Earl of Harrowby, which is eighty-five feet in height, with a trunk 

 upwards of three feet in diameter. 



Soil and Situation. According to Mr. Loudon, the gean will grow in any soil 

 that is not too wet, or is not composed entirely of a strong clay. It will thrive 

 better than most other trees in dry, calcareous, and sandy soils, attaining, even 

 in chalk, with a thin layer of earth over it, a very large size. It was found by 

 Du Hamel, that this species succeeds on poor sandy soils, where other trees had 

 altogether failed. It has been further stated that, whenever the roots extend to 

 water, the tree always decays. This tree will grow on mountains and other 

 elevations, as may readily be supposed, from its flourishing in high northern 

 latitudes; "but it does not attain a timber-like size," continues Mr. Loudon, 

 " except in plains, or on low hills. It stands less in need of shelter than any 

 other fruit-bearing tree whatever, and may often be employed on the margins of 

 orchards, and for surrounding kitchen-gardens, to form a screen against; high 



