372 [ THE CHERRY 



and very sweet scented flowers. The drupes or fruits are 

 very small, ovoid, black, uneatable. This cherry is largely 

 used as stock for all cultivated cherries, and is native of 

 Europe, Western Asia and Kurdistan. 



The common bird-cherry (Prunus Padus Lin. = 

 Padus Avium Mill.) also native of Europe and Western 

 Asia, is of no importance to the fruit grower. 



The Maltese name cirasa is derived from the Latin 

 name, and this shows that the cherry is a comparatively 

 recent introduction in the Island. Probably its intro- 

 duction dates from the rule of the Order of St. John, and 

 there are no really local sorts of cherry, that which is 

 more commonly cultivated and called cirasa ta Malta or 

 Maltese cherry being the Bigarreau commun or Coeur de 

 poulet, an ancient variety widely grown in Sicily, Italy, 

 France etc. The cultivated cherries were known to the 

 ancient Greeks and Romans who probably obtained them 

 from Asia Minor. With the Roman victories in Asia 

 Minor several good sorts of cherries were introduced into 

 Italy, whence they soon spread all over Europe, but 

 it is probable that local wide or half wild sorts were 

 already in cultivation in most countries of Southern 

 Europe before the introduction of the improved Asiatic 

 varieties. 



The cultivated cherries properly belong to a climate 

 colder than ours and to a soil in which siliceous and 

 clayey matter predominates, although the presence of a 

 large percentage of calcareous matter is not a bar to 

 their cultivation. Therefore in our subtropical climate 

 they should be grown in the cooler hilly districts and 

 upper valleys, and they demand a sheltered situation 

 with a northern aspect and a soil rich in organic manures. 

 In open situations the cherry is often unproductive, and 

 liberal dressings of manure seem to be essential for a 

 heavy production. Another important factor of success 

 is the quality of the soil in relation to the stock on which 



cherry is grown. Until lately it has been the custom 



