341 



or till aLout a pint of liquor lias been obtained from every 

 20 pints of fermented pulp. The kirscliewasser comes from 

 tlie still as clear as the purest water, and in order that it may 

 not receive any tinge wliich would lessen its value, it is always 

 kept in stone vessels or bottles.'* Alsace, Wurtemberg and Berne 

 are given as the principal places of manufacture. The liqueur 

 *' Maraschino ^^ was prepared from the fruit of P. Marasca, now 

 included as a variety of P. acida, Borkh., in Dalmatia. 



4 



Bird Cherry. — The fruits of this tree, Prumis Padus, L., have 

 a disagreeable flavour, hut they are said to impart an agreeable 

 flavour to brandy and home made wines, whilst in Sweden, Lap- 

 land, and some parts of Russia, a strong spirit has been prepared 

 from the bruised and fermented fruit. According to Sargent, 



*^ Silva of IsT. America,'/ the fruits of the ximerican bird chetry 

 (P. virginiana^ L.), are used for a cordial by infusion in rum and' 

 brandy with sugar. The fruits of P. serotina^ Ehrh., are used for 

 a similar purpose. 



Sloe or Blackthorn. — -This plant (Prunus spinosa, L.), is- 

 common in English hedgerows and its black fruits are often pro- 

 duced in abundance. The fruits are top astringent to be pleasant, 

 and although they are said to be eaten in some districts of the 

 North of Europe, and with sugar to make a good preserve^ they 

 find little favour here. Their best known use is in the preparation' 

 of sloe gin; they have also been used for making a wine. The 

 juice inspissated is said to form a nearly indelible ink. 



- > - X 



Myrobalan or Cherry Plum {Prunus cerasifera^ Ehrh.). — The 

 fruits of this are used for preserves, puddings, pies and other culi- 

 nary purposes^. They have a pleasant acid taste and can also be 

 used for dessert. 



Peach (double=flowered). 



P 



pleno can be used for stewing or for preserving. For the latter 

 purpose the stones should be removed. Some trees produce fruits 

 with great regularity- - 



^ ^ 



Common Laurel. — Birds are fond of the fruits of this bush 



[Prunus Laurocerasus^ L.), but the flesh is too ill-flavoured for 

 human food, moreover the plant contains prussic acid in its leaves, 

 and in the kernels of the fruits, therefore it is inadvisable to use 

 the fruits for domestic purposes, although Loudon, Lc, refers 

 to them as l>eing sometimes used for puddings, and Miller, 

 ^^ Gardeners' Dictionary," saj's that the berries have been used 

 for flavouring brandy and other spirits. 



^ H 



Almond (Prunus Amygdalus, Stokes.). — The greater number 

 of almond trees found in Mrdens in the British Isles bear nuts 

 with sweet kernels which are quite wholesome although they do 

 nftt belong to the thin shelled variety dxdch which produces the 

 dessert almonds of commerce. As an occasional tree may be found 

 with bitter kernels, however, care should be taken in the use of 

 the fruits, for the variety amaray with bitter kernels, contains 



