The Cherry Tree. 191 



desserts are furnished with this ornamental fruit; mid to those who 

 have ihe advantage of housed trees, the cherry makes a much ear- 

 lier appearance, 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 contrary efiect. 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 effectually, as to cure those who have the gout in their 

 feet. 



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

 to oak for strength, and comes the nearest to mahogany in appear- 

 ance. 



Judiciously planted, the cherry tree is very ornamental in the 

 shrubbery. Its early white blossoms are contrasted with the som- 

 bre shades of evergreens in the spring; and its graceful ruby balls 

 give a pleasing variety in the summer. 



East Indian Method of Making Ice. 



Ice, in the East Indies, is considered so great a luxury, that 

 the manufacture of it is a business of considerable consequence, 

 as well as profit. 



The workmen dig several large pits, perhaps thirty feet square, 

 and about two deep, — the bottoms of which, they cover from 

 eight inches to a foot thick with sugar cane, or the stems of the 

 large Indian corn, dried. 



On this bed are placed, in rows, a number of small shallow, un- 

 glazed earthen pans, formed of a very porous earth, a quarter of 

 an inch thick, and about an inch and a quarter deep, which, at 

 evening are filled with soft water, which has first been boiled. — In 

 the morning, before sunrise, the ice makers attend at the pits, and 

 collect what is frozen, in baskets, which is then conveyed to the 

 place of preservation. This is generally prepared on some high 

 and dry situation, by sinking a pit, nearly fifteen feet deep, which 

 is lined with straw, first, and afterward with a second lining of 

 coai'se blanketing. The ice is deposited here, and beaten down 

 with hammers, till, at length, its own accumulated and accimiula- 

 ting cold, again freezes the whole mass into a solid cake. The 

 mouth of the-store-pit is well secured from the influence of exte- 

 rior air, with straw and blankets, and lastly, a thatched roof is 

 thrown over the whole. 



