Cherry Tree. 



Cherry Tree, 



The Prunus Cerasus — Cherry Tree, is in the class 

 Icosandria, order, Monogynia. The generic name is derived 

 from a Latin word meaning plum. Its characters are : calyx, 

 five cleft, inferior ; petals, live ; drupe, with a nut having the 

 sutures prominent. Specific characters : — umbels, sub-pedun- 

 cles ; leaves, ovate, lanceolate, smooth folded together. 



This well known tree bears its white flowers in April and 

 May, 'in preparation for its loads of fruit the forthcoming sea- 

 son. We find an account of its first introduction to Italy, 

 seventy-three years before our Saviour's advent, by Lucullus, 

 who obtained it from a town in Pontus, in Asia, called Cera- 

 sus, from whence it derives its specific name. The Romans 

 brought it to England, though it is supposed that these have 

 all been lost. There is no proof that cherries were in England 

 at the time of the Norman conquest, nor for some time after, 

 but Lydgate, who wrote about 1415 or before, says that 

 cherries were then exposed for .sale in the London market, as 

 they are now in the early season. It is a very ornamental 

 tree in the shrubbery, and in woods, and is esteemed valuable 

 in England, as encouraging the various species of thrush. 



This tree is of a medium size ; the branches of an ash 

 color and shining. The leaves, egg-shaped, and minutely 

 toothed on the margin. The flowers are white, and produced 

 in umbels. The fruit, a roundish drupe of different colors, 

 yellow, red, or black ; always covered with a shining cuticle. 

 Louden speaks of it as a refreshing summer fruit, always 

 grateful to the palate of man ; as well as the flying denizens 

 of the air. It is used in some places, not only as an article of 

 luxury but of food. Bosc tells us, that in the forests of the 

 mountains east of France, great quantities of them are pre- 

 pared by drying ; upon which the Charboniers, a half civil- 

 ized, but kind and hospitable race, mostly exist in the winter. 

 Their soups arc mado by boiling the dried fruit in water, -with 

 a small portion of butter and bread. The gum which exudes 

 from the tree has been found equal to Gum Arabic. Hassel- 



