XLIV. 
THE CHERRY TREE. 
THE CHERRY (Cerasus) belongs to the section Amygdalee of 
the natural order Rosacew (Loudon), and to Icosandria monogynia 
in the Linnean system. The cherry tree comprehends all the 
wild or common varieties of the tree which in Scotland are com- 
monly termed geans, all the engrafted kinds cultivated for 
their fruit, the various kinds of bird cherry commonly named 
after the different countries to which they belong. The Portu- 
gal and common laurel belong to the same family. 
The numerous kinds of which this genus is composed are 
all very ornamental, but none of them can be classed among 
our timber trees except the wild cherry or gean—C. sylvestris 
(Ray). It is indigenous throughout Europe, and consists of 
very numerous varieties, which differ considerably in the size 
and shape of their leaves, the size and quality of their fruit, 
in their rapidity of growth and ultimate bulk. These last- 
mentioned differences are of great importance in an arboricul- 
tural point of view ; indeed, as much so as usually exists in a 
difference of species among other tribes. In the Highland 
glens of Scotland the best timber varieties usually attain the 
height of from forty to fifty feet, with trunks two feet in 
diameter ; and under favourable circumstances they seldom 
fail to attain these dimensions. The tree will grow in any 
description of soil, provided it is dry, and not a pure clay ; 
that most congenial to its development is a sandy loam on an 
open subsoil. Very few trees will thrive so well on chalky 
or rocky situations where there is only a scanty layer of soil. 
It is very hardy, and grows at considerable elevations, but it 
attains a large size only on low sheltered ground. It springs 
