Cerastis vvlgaris. 

 THE COMMON CHERRY-TREE. 



Synonymes. 



Prunua cerasus, 



Cerasus caproniana, 



Cerasus vulgaris, 



Cerisier, Grottier, Cerisier de Paris, Ceri- 



sier de Montmorenci, Cerisier a fruits 



ronds, Cerisier dii nord. Grottier franc, 



Grottier des parisiens, 

 GemeinerKirschbaum.SaurerKirschbaum, Germany 

 Ciliegio, Ciriegio, Marasca, Italy. 



Cherry-tree, Kentish or Flemish Cherry 



tree, Morello, May Duke, 



LiNN^us, Species Plantarum. 

 De Candolle, Prodromus. 

 Loudon, Arboretum Britannicura. 



France. 



Britain. 



Derirations. The specific name, caproniana, is said to be derived from capron, the hautboia strawberry, probably from the 

 fruit of this tree possessing much more flavour than that of the Cerasus sylveslris. Morello is either from morel, a species of 

 fungus, (IMorchella escuienia.) the flesh of which is of a similar consistency as that of this cherry ; or, perhaps, from the 

 French word morelle, a ne^ress. ^Tay Duke is a corruption of Medoc. the province of France where this variety is supposed 

 10 have originated. Grottier is said to be derived from aigreur, sourness, or sharpness, and is applied to this cherry, from 

 the acidity of its fruit. 



Engravings. Lindley, Pomologia Britannica ; Hoflfy, Orchardists' Companion ; Loudon, Arboretum Brilannicum, vi., pi. 1 14 ; 

 tnd the figures below. 



Specific Characters. Branches spreading. Flowers in subsessile umbels, somewhat stalked. Leaves 

 ovate-lanceolate, smooth, folded together. Loudon. 



Description. 



^^r^HE Common 



Cherry - tree 

 of much 

 m less magni- 

 tude than the preceding species, and, 

 in point of general appearance, may be i 

 included under three forms : Larg 

 trees with stout branches, and shoots 

 proceeding from the main stem hori- 

 zontally, or slightly inclining upwards ; 

 fastigiate trees of a smaller size; and 

 small trees with weak wood, and divergent, drooping branches. The leave* 

 vary so much, from the effects of cultivation, that it is impossible to characterize 

 the sorts by them ; but, in general, it has been observed, that those of the large 

 trees are largest, and the lightest in colour, and those of the slender-branched 

 varieties are the smallest, and of the darkest shade ; the flowers are also the 

 largest on the large trees. The fruit is round, melting, full of a watery juice, 

 more or less flavoured, and almost always sensibly acid. The skin of the fruit 

 separates easily from the flesh, and the flesh parts readily from the stone. It is 

 commonly red, but in numerous varieties it passes into all shades between that 

 colour and dark-purple or black. 



Varieties. The common cherry, like many ather kinds of fruit, has, by long 



cultivation, become exceedingly multiplied in its varieties, and new races, or 



new names, are constantly being added to our catalogues, which number, at f res- 



ftnt, at least three hundred. As it is impossible for us to enter, in detail into 



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