ROSACE.E. 



119 



in the world. Cherry-trees in blossom aro f,n-eiitly prized by the Japanese as 

 ornaments to tlieir gardens. , r • 



Eti/molo(]y. — The specific name, avimi, is derived from the Latin wr.rd 

 avis a bird, and arose from the circumstance that birds are drnd of this fruit. 

 Chern/, tlie common name, is a corruption of the old Greek name cerasus, 

 a name a])i)lied to this fruit because it was found growing at ("erasus, a town 



in Pontus. 



^/5^,„.^. _ 'Pliis delicious fruit is said to have l)een brought from Armenia 

 to Italv by Lucullus, a victc^rious general, about seventy years before the com- 

 mencement of the Christian 

 era, whence it spread west- 

 ward, and was no doubt car- 

 ried to England in the days 

 of Agricola. Its popularity 

 may be inferred from the 

 circumstance that it spread 

 over southern and middle 

 Europe in a very short time ; 

 for about the beginning of 

 the second century of the 

 Christian era it was to be 

 found in the grounds and gar- 

 dens of the wealtliy through- 

 out northern Italy, Spain, 

 France, southern Germany, 

 and England, — this too at a 

 period in the world's history 

 before agriculture or fruit- 

 growing liad attained any 

 scientific importance. 



In the southern parts of 

 Europe and in northern 

 Africa the cherry was called 

 the " berry of the king." 



For many years this fruit has l)een a favorite in Germany. Loudon, in his 

 account of trees, says that in Germany and Switzerland the local governments 

 encourage the inhabitants to plant trees, and in some neighborhoods tlie high- 

 way pa^sses through avenues of cherry-trees, to the fruit of which tlie trav- 

 eller is at liberty to help himself, provided that he takes no more than he can 

 eat on tlie spot. In Moravia the highway from Brunn to Olmutz, a distance 

 of sixty miles, passes through an avenue of cherry-trees. 



The" ancient home of the cherry is believed by I)e CandoUc to be the 

 country south and cast of the Black Sea, extending from the Caspian to the 

 Propontis. He l)elieves also that the cherry was known t.) the Komans before 

 the days of Lucullus, and that he only introduced an improved variety, which 

 gave rise to the su])]H)sition that he had brought to Kome a new fruit. 



^sg. — The cherry varies in form from gloliular to heart-shaped, and in size 

 from half an inch iii diameter to three <iuarters. and from three (juarters of an 

 inch to an inch and a cpiarter in lengtli. It is the most delicious fruit of its 

 season. It is highly prized as a dessert. It excels as a fruit for pies, pud- 

 dings, and tarts, is a favorite preserve in sugar 

 canned and dried. 



Prunus cerasus (Common Sour Cherry). 



as 

 or brand\ 



and 



largely 



