16$ VEGETABLE SUBSTANCES. 



this, their powers of vej^etation are exhausted by the 

 quantity of fruit that they are, as it were, forced to bear. 



Cherries, in a wild state, are very plentifully dif- 

 fused, being met with in most temperate countries, 

 and even in those that may be considered as cold. 

 The wood of the cherry is very close, and, in some 

 sorts, of a beautifiil colour, and well adapted for 

 handles of tools. It takes a fine polish, and is not 

 liable to split. Some of the bird cherries are beauti- 

 fully veined, and have an agreeable perfiime, on 

 which account they are much used by cabinet-makers 

 in the interior parts of the continent. None of the 

 cherries grow to be very large trees ; but they may 

 frequently be met with fi-om a foot to eighteen inches 

 in diameter at the root. 



Apricots grow wild in China, Japan, and upon 

 many of the mountains of central Asia : the timber 

 has some resemblance to that of the cherry ; but it is 

 white, and not so hard. The apricot is not a native 

 of England, and is not cultivated as a timber tree. 



The JFild Plum is a native of the warmer parts of 

 Europe, though it be doubtful whether of England 

 or not. It is sometimes found in hedges and other 

 situations where it is not likely to have been planted, 

 but it may have been produced from some of the cul- 

 tivated sorts. The plum-tree grows to a considerable 

 size ; the wood is close and strong ; and the bark 

 maybe used in dyeing yellow, 



Tlie Pear grows to a considerable size : the wood 

 is light, smooth, and compact ; and answers well for 

 carving, for picture-frames, the handles of tools, and 

 wooden spoons and dishes. 



The wood of the Apple is harder and weightier than 

 that of the pear: it bears a resemblance to that of the 

 crab, although it be not so tough and hard. In the 

 working parts of machinery, it is very durable. 



The timber of the fruit-trees is not well adapted for 

 works that are to be under water. The sap being so- 



