CHERRY. 



149 



described by M. Merlet, under the name of Cerise 

 Roi/ale Haiive, a character it well deserves, as being 

 not only early, but worthy of being partaken of by 

 the greatest monarchs that ever swayed a sceptre. 



The author trusts to be forgiven for introducing 

 in this place, a little history of a famous old May 

 duke cherry which stood against a south wall in the 

 Royal Garden at Richmond, probably planted in the 

 reign of George I. The fruit from this tree often 

 served to regale the royal party, particularly on the 

 sovereign's birth day (4th June) ; and many a dish 

 was gathered by the author for the Prince of Wales 

 and Bishop of Osnaburg, when on mornings they 

 visited their royal parents at the lodge. This tree 

 was not only remarkable for its early ripening, great 

 crops, and excellence of the fruit, but for the state 

 of its stem, which was then, and had been for many 

 years previous, stripped of the greatest portion of 

 its bark ; a narrow strip only next tlie wall, being 

 the only channel between the root and the head* 

 The tree produced but little wood : in fact, only 

 annual spurs which were covered with flower buds. 

 This tree, together with the Royal Lodge to which 

 it belonged, were all cleared away about the vear 



1772. 



In considering tlie st-ate of this tree v/e cannot 

 help adverting to the popular doctrine, which enjoins 

 the belief, that there is a circulation of the sap ; 

 and the author seizes this opportunity of declaring 

 his opinion thereon. He never saw the smallest 

 proof of any thing like a circulation of the sap in 



