54 THE CHERRIES OF NEW YORK 



alongst the small branches, consisting of five small white leaves, with some 

 greenish and yellow thrums in the middle: after which come the fruit, 

 greene at the first, blacke when they be ripe, and of the bignesse of Sloes; 

 of an harsh and unpleasant taste. 



" The other birds Cherry-tree differeth not from the former in any 

 respect, but in the colour of the berries; for as they are blacke; so on the 

 contrary, these are red when they be ripe, wherein they differ." 



The cherries described in these two paragraphs, one black and one 

 red, "that bringeth forth very much fruit upon one branch" and 

 " groweth in the wilde woods " and "of an harsh and unpleasant taste " 

 are of course the Prunus padus of Britain and most of Europe — not 

 a true cherry but the racemose Bird Cherry, or Choke Cherry. 



" The common blacke Cherry-tree growes up in some places to great 

 stature: there is no difference between it and our common Cherry-tree, 

 saving that the fruit hereof is very little in respect of other Cherries, and 

 of a blacke colour." 



This must be some wild Gean or Mazzard. 



" The dwarf e Cherry-tree groweth very seldome to the height of 

 three cubits: the trunke or body small, covered with a darke coloured 

 blacke: whereupon do grow very limber and pliant twiggie branches: the 

 leaves are very small, not much unlike to those of the Privite bush: the 

 floures are small and white: after which come Cherries of a deepe red 

 colour when they be ripe, of taste somewhat sharpe, but not greatly 

 unpleasant: the branches laid downe in the earth, quickely take root, 

 whereby it is greatly increased." 



Here we have Prunus fruticosa very well described. 



" My selfe with divers others have sundry other sorts in our gardens, 

 one called the Hart Cherry, the greater and the lesser; one of the great 

 bignesse, and most pleasant in taste, which we call Luke Wardes Cherry, 

 because he was the first that brought the same out of Italy; another we 

 have called the Naples Cherry, because it was first brought into these 

 parts from Naples: the fruit is very great, sharpe pointed, somewhat like 

 a man's heart in shape, of a pleasant taste, and of a deepe blackish colour 

 when it is ripe, as it were of the colour of dried bloud." 



Gerarde's Hart is probably one of the Heart cherries, while " Luke 

 Wardes Cherry " is one of the oldest named Sweet Cherries known in 

 England, having been mentioned by Parkinson and other of the herbalists 

 as well as in this list. 



" We have another that bringeth forth Cherries also very great, 

 bigger than any Flanders Cherrie, of the colour of Jet, or burnished home. 



