CHERSYDRUS. 



The improved varieties cannot be raised from their 

 seed ; for though these varieties were at first origi- 

 nated from accidental or artificial impregnation, yet 

 the effect of the strange pollen appears to be confined 

 to the progeny following immediately after impreg- 

 nation, because the seeds of the next generation, that 

 is, seedlings from the improved variety, retain no fea- 

 ture of the improvement, but go back to their original 

 wild character. It seems therefore, in this, as in 

 other cases of the same kind, that the mixture or 

 influence of strange pollen, effects a change in the 

 habit generally, in the enlargement of the leaves 

 and pulpy covering of the stone, and in the organisa- 

 tion of the kernel belonging to the flower impreg- 

 neted, but that this influence on the kernel is not 

 permament, and ceases after the first year. 



But although these improvements cannot be per- 

 petuated by seeds, they are readily and purely 

 continued by the common practices of grafting or 

 budding on their own stocks, or rather upon stocks 

 raised from the stones of wild cherries. 



Cherry trees do not all bear flowers and fruit in 

 the same manner ; the morella bears on the last year's 

 young shoots ; and the may-duke and most of the 

 others bear on shoots, also produced in the past year, 

 but from the older wood, and so short that they are 

 called spurs. This difference in the manner of bear- 

 ing indicates the manner in which the trees should 

 be pruned and trained. The morella for instance, is 

 pruned and trained like the peach tree, because they 

 both bear fruit in the same manner, namely, on the 

 young shoots of the previous year. The other sorts, 

 as the may-duke, when planted against walls, or as 

 espaliers, are trained in the fan manner, or horizon- 

 tally, or in any other way, that the strength or vigour 

 of the tree may indicate. A weakly growing tree 

 should be trained erect, that is, have its branches 

 laid in as nearly upright as possible ; while a strong 

 grower should be laid horizontally, or drooping, in 

 order to cause fruitfulness. As low standards in gar- 

 dens, or high standards in orchards, cherry trees of 

 all sorts generally do well if the soil be suitable. 

 Such trees seldom want pruning, except to cut out 

 dead wood, or over-crowded branches which press on 

 each other. Old worn out standards are often pro- 

 fitably renovated, by having their largest branches cut 

 back. 



In orchards attached to farm homesteads, we often 

 see cherry trees in great perfection, and yielding a 

 considerable revenue to the owner. The cherry 

 orchards of Kent, and other counties near the metro- 

 polis, are famous for the income derived from them. 

 The fanners manage their trees well ; and one part 

 of their practice deserves imitation. They plant 

 strong healthy stocks in the place where the tree is 

 intended to stand; and when these are well esta- 

 blished, graft or bud them with the desired sort. This 

 is a good practice, and suitable for all other orchard 

 fruit trees, as well as cherries. Grafting is preferable 

 for sooner obtaining a spreading head, and for ren- 

 dering it less liable to be blown off by the wind. 

 Budding, however, is not so likely to gum at the 

 place of insertion ; and ultimately forms a perfect 

 union with the stock, if care be taken to give the first 

 shoot or shoots the necessary support during the 

 second and third year after working. 



Cherries are much preyed on by birds, and to pre- 

 serve them requires no little care. In cherry orchards 

 a keeper must be constantly, early and late, on the 



alert, to frighten away the thieves. In gardens, nets 

 are the best defence; but they can only be used 

 conveniently against walls, or over espaliers or low 

 standards. The tree is liable to suffer from the at- 

 tack of insects. The aphis often settle in great 

 numbers on the points of the shoots, and not only 

 prevent a healthy growth, but disfigure the fruit by 

 the honey-dew which these insects emit. A fumiga- 

 tion with tobacco smoke a fortnight or three weeks 

 before the fruit ripens, will kill or drive away the 

 insects. For this purpose a thin canvas cloth of 

 sufficient size to cover a tree, in the open air, is re- 

 quisite ; but it is better to prevent the insects settling 

 by repeated and forcible watering, than have to drive 

 them by any such nauseous application as either 

 tobacco or brimstone. 



The delicate blossoms of the cherry, and all other 

 early-flowering fruit trees, are liable to be withered 

 and destroyed by dry winds and hot sunshine, as 

 much as they are by frost. This is the reason that 

 if they chance to blow in cloudy weather, or dur- 

 ing a wet time, more abundant crops follow, than 

 when the blooming takes place under bright sun- 

 shine. For this reason also, it is, that morella and 

 other sorts, as well as some kinds of plums, are more 

 prolific on a north than on a south wall or aspect, 

 merely because the tender pistil and stamens of the 

 flowers are scorched before they have performed 

 their respective functions. This shows that shading 

 by day is quite as necessary as covering from the 

 frosts of night. This fruit tree is also subject to be 

 enfeebled and barren, from its over-abundant flow- 

 ering ; a circumstance which, if it happens when the 

 weather is favourable for the flowers, a great load of 

 small worthless fruit is the consequence ; and if the 

 weather be hot and bright, every flower will be 

 withered, because of weakness caused by their su- 

 perabundance. In this case thinning the buds or 

 flowers before they blow, or rather as soon as they 

 burst from the bud, will prevent exhaustion of the 

 tree, invigorate the reserved flowers, and ensure a 

 regular crop. 



The may-duke forces well ; but they require a 

 house built on purpose. Dwarf plants three or four 

 years from the bud, and standards of the same age, 

 should be planted to fill the house from front to back. 

 Gentle forcing, very gradually increased, with a con- 

 stantly moist atmosphere within the house, are the 

 circumstances indispensable for cherries forced to 

 yield their beautiful fruit in March and April. 



There are many varieties of the cherry now in 

 cultivation, of which for gardens the following are 

 particularly suitable, viz. may-duke, graffion, black- 

 heart, whiteheart, biggaroon, Kensington duke, 

 Knight's blackheart, and morella. For farm orchards 

 the Kentish and caroon are the most certain bearers ; 

 the last growing to a fine stately tree. 



CHERSYDRUS. A genus of true serpents found 

 in Java, and the other isles of the Sunda group. Some 

 writers have confounded it with Acrochordus, which is 

 not a poisonous serpent, and has the scales with small 

 crests, and interspersed with warty tubercles. This 

 species, on the other hand, has the scales all over the 

 head and body small and flat, and ensiform in ap- 

 pearance. This genus inhabits the bottoms of rivers 

 in the countries above named, and is described as 

 being very venomous. The chief difference between 

 it and the other water serpents which are poisonous, 

 consists in the smallncss of the scales on its head. It 



