THE CHERRY 59 



stalked and downy on their under surfaces, and have 

 two reddish glands on the stalk, and the flowers, 

 which are produced somewhat later, are arranged in 

 " umbels " — i.e. each on a rather long stalk springing 

 with the others from one point, like the ribs of an 

 umbrella. The petals are soft and limp, and are 

 deeply notched. The fruit is heart-shaped, firm iu 

 flesh, and not very juicy, bitter in taste, and either 

 black or red. The juice stains the hands. From it 

 is distilled the kirschwasser of Germany, and it is 

 probably the wild original of the Morello, or Brandy 

 Cherry of our gardens. 



The Dwarf Cherry (P. Cerasus L.) is a bushy 

 shrub, not more than from three to eight feet in 

 height, with a reddish bark, small blunt buds, and 

 short-stalked, erect, and coarsely-notched leaves. Its 

 flowers, too, are arranged in umbels, and have firm, 

 slightly notched petals; and its fruit is round, red, 

 and acid, being distinguished by this acidity and by 

 the comparative abundance of its juice, which does not 

 stain the fingers. It is believed to be the origin of 

 our sweet garden Cherries ; though, even if this be so, 

 it does not militate against the statement that the 

 latter are a late introduction from Asia, whilst the 

 Dwarf Cherry grows wild over a large part of Europe. 

 It does not extend north of Yorkshire. 



" It is," says Professor Marshall Ward, " generally 

 difficult, and sometimes extremely difficult, to deter- 

 mine the buds of the various species of Prunus and 

 Pyrus. A good general distinction is found in the 

 leaf-scars, which are usually narrow, crescentic and 

 extended some distance round the twig in Pyrus, but 



