CHERRY. 81 



the year that our desserts are furnished with this orna- 

 mental fruit; and to those who have the advantage of 

 housed trees, the cherry makes a much earlier appear- 

 ance, as it is a fruit that bears forcing exceedingly 

 well. 



Cherries have ever been found more tempting than 

 wholesome. Pliny says, " this fruit will loosen and hurt 

 the stomach ; but, when hung up and dried, has a con- 

 trary effect." He relates, that some authors have affirmed 

 that cherries, eaten fresh from the tree when the morning 

 dew is on them, and the stones being also swallowed, will 

 purge so .effectually, as to cure those who have the gout 

 in their feet. Dr. John Quincey says in his English 

 Dispensatory, " Many of the sorts, and particularly the 

 Kentish red cherries, are a very wholesome fruit and grate- 

 ful to the stomach, but the black only are used in medi- 

 cine : they are prescribed in all diseases of the head and 

 nerves ; and by some are accounted diuretic, especially 

 the water distilled from them." 



Dried cherries are much esteemed for winter puddings ; 

 and the wine made from this fruit much resembles the red 

 Constantia, both in colour and flavour. The small black 

 cherries, with good brandy, produce one of the most 

 wholesome as well as agreeable liqueurs. Eau de Cerises 

 is an admired liqueur of France. 



The wood of the cherry-tree, which is hard and tough, 

 is next to oak for strength, and comes the nearest to ma- 

 hogany in appearance : it is in much request with the turn- 

 ers for making chairs, &c. and is esteemed by musical in- 

 strument makers, who pretend that it is sonorous. 



The common black cherry-tree prospers in a cold soil. 

 Evelyn observes that they afford considerable timber ; 

 and he mentions some that were eighty feet in length. 

 In all probability these trees originally sprang from the 

 seed of the cultivated cherry that had been introduced by 



