216 FLORA DOMESTICA. 



LAUREL. 



PRUNUS LAURO-CERASUS. 



ROSACE.3S. ICOSANDRIA MONOGYNIA. 



French, le laurier-cerise.Italian, lauro regio ; lauro di Trebisonda. 



THE Laurel, which has been frequently confounded 

 with the Laurus Nobilis, or Sweet Bay, does not even be- 

 long to the same genus. Among the species of Laurus 

 are many valuable trees, as the camphor, sassafras, cassia, 

 cinnamon, &c. ; but the common Laurel is not one of that 

 family. 



This Laurel was formerly called the Cherry-bay, or 

 Bay-cherry, and was preserved in green-houses in the 

 winter. The only protection against the climate now af- 

 forded it, is in planting it in a warm aspect, or against a 

 warm wall, to preserve it from frost. In warm countries, 

 the Laurel will grow to a great size ; so that in some parts 

 of Italy there are large woods of them. Where they are 

 numerous, and near together, they defend each other, and 

 are not liable to injury by frost : but when in pots, the 

 roots should be covered with a little straw in severe win- 

 ters. In dry winter weather, when not frosty, it may be 

 watered once a week ; in the summer, every evening when 

 there is no rain. 



The Portugal is much hardier than the Common 

 Laurel. They may be increased by cuttings of the same 

 year's shoots, which should be planted in September. If 

 a small part of the former year's wood be left at the bot- 

 tom, they will root faster. They should be planted five 

 or six inches deep, in a soft, loamy earth, and the earth 

 pressed close to them. 



Evelyn says, that if the Lauro-cerasus, or Cherry- 



