182 THE CHERRY. 



THE CHERRY. 



Cerasus Sylvestris, and C. vulgaris, Arb. Brit. Rosacea of Botanists. 



The Cherry, in its wild state, is a native of most parts of the 

 United States, and also of Britain ; but the cultivated variety is re- 

 corded as having been brought from Cerasus (whence the name), 

 a city of Pontus, in Asia Minor, and planted in the gardens of Italy 

 by the Roman General, Lucullus, after he had vanquished Mithri- 

 dates, in the year 69, B. C. 



In 1824, Rev. Dr. Robert Walsh made communication to the 

 London Horticultural Society, stating the Cherry to be now grow- 

 ing in the land of its origin, whence it was brought near 2,000 years 

 ago. 



He describes two varieties. " The first of these varieties is a 

 Cherry of enormous size, which grows along the northern coast of 

 Asia Minor, from whence the original Cherry was brought to Eng- 

 land. It is cultivated in gardens, always as a standard, and by a 

 graft. The second variety is an amber colored transparent Cherry, 

 of a delicious flavor. It grows in the woods, in the interior of Asia 

 Minor, particularly on the banks of the Sakari, the ancient Sanga- 

 rius. The trees attain gigantic size the trunk of one measured in 

 circumference five feet ; height, to where the first branch issued, 

 forty feet ; summit of highest branch, ninety feet and this im 

 mense tree loaded with fruit." 



From Italy it was introduced into England as early as the forty- 

 second year B. C., although some authorities date its introduction 

 as late as fifty-five years after the Christian Era that is, in the early 

 part of the reign of Nero. The former date appears to be con- 

 firmed by Pliny, who says : " Italy was so well stocked that, in less 

 than twenty-six years after, other lands had Cherries, even as far as 

 Britain, beyond the Ocean." The poet, Lydgate, who wrote in or 

 about 1415, says that Cherries were then exposed for sale in the 

 streets of London, much as they are at the present day ; and in a 

 curious poem, entitled Lickpenny, is found the following allusion to 

 them : 



" Hot pescodes one began to cry, 

 Straberys rype and Cherreys in the ryse." 



From England and Holland both seeds and trees were introduced 

 into this country early after its first settlement. 



