THE CHERRY. 



115 



contrasting exquisitely (especially when kindled into a 

 brighter blaze by the straggling rays of the sun) with the 

 dull grey of the rocks among which it has taken its station, 

 and the rich brown of the river which it overhangs. 



There are several varieties of the tree even in the wild 

 state ; but modern botanists are of opinion that these may 

 all be reduced to two species, the Blade and Red-fruited. 



FRUIT OF THE WILD CHERRY. 



It derives its name from Cerasus (now Kerasoun), a city 

 of ancient Pontus, in Asia, whence it was brought by 

 Lucullus, the Eoman general (b.c. 67), at the close of the 

 Mithridatic war. Lucullus thought this tree of so much 

 importance, that, when he was granted a triumph, he 

 placed it in the most conspicuous situation among the 

 royal treasures which he had captured during the war ; nor 



