CHERRIES. 231 



The mode of pruning, and the distances to wnicn the 

 trees should be set asunder, vary but little from that of the 

 peach. The plum, from its possessing a very smooth skin, 

 is extremely liable to the attacks of the curculio. For the 

 modes of prevention, see CURCULIO, in the former part of 

 this work. Particular varieties of the plum tree are also 

 liable to be attacked by a worm, which causes large black 

 bunches to be formed on the limbs. Some varieties, how 

 ever, are exempted from this disease. The remedy is easy, 

 and consists in separating every bunch, every badly-affect- 

 ed branch, or even tree, and committing them to the fire. 

 No affected tree should be suffered to exist near the orchard. 

 In this way, and in this alone, the worm and the disease 

 may be exterminated with certainty and but little trouble. 



CHERRY. (Prunus Cerasus.) 



The cherry is a tree of medium size ; the branches are 

 shining, of an ash color ; the leaves are ovate, serrated ; 

 the flowers are white, and produced in umbels ; the fruit is 

 a roundish drupe, of a yellow, red, or black color, and 

 shining; of a sweet or acid flavor; it encloses a smooth 

 stone. 



The native country of the cherry has been assigned to 

 Asia. It was brought to Rome before the Christian era, 

 by Lucullus, from a town in Pontus, called Cerasus; hence 

 its name. 



USES. The cherry is a highly-esteemed summer dessert 

 fruit. It is also extensively used in cookery, in pies, 

 tarts, &.c. The dried fruit forms an article of luxury and 

 food. In the forests of the mountains of the east of 

 France, says Bosc, where the Merisiers formerly abounded, 

 great quantities were dried, and constituted an important 

 article of food, during the winter, of the Charboniers, a half 

 savage, but kind and hospitable race. Their soups were 

 prepared by boiling the dried fruit in water, with bread, a 

 small portion of butter being added. From the juice a 



