78 



CHERRY-TKEE. 



executed, must not prevect summer prmrlng, (which consists 

 in rubbing off redundant or ill-placed buds,) nor that of 

 winter^ if confined to the renewal of fractured and unsound 

 wood, or branches too much multiplied^ or crossing each 

 other. The nature of the Morello will, however, render 

 it an exception to the general practice here recommended j 

 for, instead of bearing like the other varieties, on two, three, 

 and even four years old wood, its fruit is generally produ- 

 ced on shoots of the last year, and rarely, if ever, on even 

 two years old wood. Whence it follows, that, with regard 

 to this variety, our aim, in both summer and winter pruning, 

 ought to be 'a removal of old, and a provision of new 

 bearers.' 



" In renovating an old tree, pursue Forsyth's method- 

 shorten it to a stump not more than eighteen inches high; 

 remove the old soil from the roots ; replace it with that of 

 upland pasture, on a layer of stone or other impervious 

 body, two feet below the surface ; and encourage a single 

 shoot. " — Armstrong, 



Use, — " It is a refreshing summer fruit, highly grateful 

 at the dessert, and affording pies, tarts, and other useful and 

 elegant preparations in cookery and confectionary. Steep- 

 ing cherries in brandy qualifies and improves its strength 

 and flavour ; a fine wine is made from the juice, and a 

 spirit distilled from the fermented pulp. The gum which 

 exudes from the tree is equal to gum arabic ; and Hasei- 

 quist relates, that more than two hundred men, during a 

 siege, were kept alive for nearly two months, without any 

 other sustenance than a little of the gum taken sometimes 

 into the mouth, and suffered gradually to dissolve. Cherry 

 wood is hard and tough, and is used by the turner, flute- 

 maker and cabinet-maker." — Loudon, 



" The common wild or native cherry, (Prums cerasus 

 Virginia^) though it bears only a small, bitter cherry, which 

 serves as food for birds, is valuable on account of its medi- 

 cinal bark, and also for its timber, which is of a reddish, 

 streaked colour, resembling mahogany, and capable of 

 receiving a fine polish ; it is used by turners and cabinet- 

 makers for many purposes. The tree grows to a large size. 



" Cherry brandy is made in the following manner : — Fill 

 the cask with an equal proportion of Morello and sweet 

 black cherries ; pour over them as much brandy as the 

 cask will contain. When it has been on ten days, draw it 

 off, and pour on hot water ; let this remain some time, sha- 



