XXVI. ROSACEE: CE’/RASUS. 277 
by cuttings or seeds ; they will grow iu any common soil that is tolerably dry. 
There is much confusion in all the species, more particularly as regards 
those which are natives of North America; and which, as Sir W. J. Hooker 
judiciously observes, can only be “ removed by carefully studying the plants 
in a living state, both during the season of the blossom and that of the fruit.” 
(Flor. Bor. Amer., i. p. 167.) 
§ i. Cerasdéphora Dec. The Cherry-bearing Kinds. 
Sect. Char, Flowers produced from buds upon shoots not of the same year ; 
and, in many instances, disposed umbellately. Leaves deciduous, 
A. Species cultivated for their Fruit. 
The Cherries cultivated in Gardens, according to Linnzus, and almost all 
botanists to the time of DeCandolle, have been referred to Primus avium L. 
and Prinus Cérasus L.; the former being the mérisier of the French, and 
corresponding with the small wild black bitter cherry of the English (the C. 
sylvéstris of Ray); and the latter the cerisier of the French, and correspond- 
ing with the common red sour cherry of the English (the C. vulgaris of Mil- 
ler). To these two species DeCandolle has added two others: Cérasus 
Juliana, which he considers as including the guigniers ; and Cérasus duracina, 
under which he includes the bigarreaus, or hard cherries. Under each of 
these four species, Seringe,-in DeCandolle’s Prodromus, has arranged a num- 
ber of varieties, with definitions to each group: but, as neither the species 
nor the groups appear to us distinct, we have adopted the arrangement of the 
author of the article on Cérasus in the Nouveau DuHamel, as much more 
simple and satisfactory ; and have referred all the cultivated varieties to the 
same species as Linnzeus; substituting for Prinus avium L., Cérasus sylvéstris, 
the synon. of Ray; and for Prinus Cérasus L., Cérasus vulgaris, already used 
to designate the same species in Mill. Dict., and by Loiseleur in the Nouveau Du 
Hamel. The arrangement of the varieties, and general culture of the cherry in 
the kitchen-garden and orchard, will be found at length in our Encyclopedia of 
Gardening ; and, in a more condensed form, in our Suburban Horticulturist. 
¥ 1. C.syive’stris Bauh. and Ray. The wild dlack-fruited Cherry Tree. 
Identification. Bauh. Hist., 1.1. 2. p.220.; Ray Hist. 1539.; Pers. Syn., 2. p.35. 
Synonymes and Garden Names. C. avium Mench, N. Du Ham. 5.p.10., Don’s Mill. 2. p. 505. ; 
C.nigra Mill. Dict. No.2., not of Ait. ; Prinus avium Lin. Sp. 680.; P. avium var. « and B 
Willd. Baum. ed. 2. p.308.; Prinus avium var. Band y Eng. Flor. 2. p.355.; P. nigricans and 
P. varia Ehr. Beitr. 7. p. 126, 127.; Gean, Bigarreau, Corone, Coroon, Small Black, Black Hert- 
fordshire, Black Heart, Black Mazzard, the Merry Tree af the Cheshire peasants, the Merries in 
Suffolk 3 Merisier, Merise grosse noire, Guignier, Bigarreautier, Heaumier, Fr.; Siisse Kirsche, 
Ger.; Ciregiolo, Ital. 
Derivation. This cherry is called Carone, or Coroon, in some parts of England, from corone, a. 
crow, in reference to its blackness. Merry Tree and Merries are evidently corruptions of the 
word Mérisier ; and Mérisier is said to be derived from the words amére, bitter, and cerise, a 
cherry. Bigarreau is derived from bigarrée party-coloured, because the cherries known by this 
name are generally of two colours, yellow and red; and Heaumier is from the French word 
heaume, a helmet, from the shape of the fruit. 
Engravings. Du Ham. Tr. Arb., 1. p.156.; Arb. Brit., Ist edit., vol. vi.; and our fig. 447. 
Spec. Char., §c. Branches vigorous and divaricate ; the buds from which the 
fruits are produced oblong-acute. Flowers in umbel-like groups, sessile, 
not numerous. Leaves oval-lanceolate, pointed, serrated, somewhat pen- 
dent, slightly pubescent on the under side, and furnished with two glands at 
the base. (Dec. Prod., N. Du Hamel.) A middle-sized tree. Europe, in 
woods and hedges. Height, in dry fertile soils, 40 ft. to 50 ft. or upwards, 
Flowers white ; April and May. Drupe red or black ; ripe in July. De- 
caying leaves of a fine red, or rich yellow and red. 
Varieties. 
1, Mérisiers or Merries, with black or yellow fruit. 
2. Guigniers or Geans (C. Juliana Dec.), with red or black fruit, early or 
late, and including the tobacco-leaved guignier, or gean, of four to the 
5 
pound (the C. decumana of Delauny). 
T3 
