CHERRY. 151 



good Mr. Aiton, to "beware of the temptation 

 before them:" such however was their feeling of 

 loyalty, and of personal respect for their kind ad- 

 viser, that not a cherry was tasted. The author 

 cannot recal these early scenes of his life to memory 

 without some pangs of regret. The king, and 

 masters whom he served, and all his fellows he 

 served with — all are gone ! except one only 

 (Whitman, formerly gardener to the Duke of Marl- 

 borough) and himself. The fruit so protected con- 

 tinued good to the end of the first week in Sep- 

 tember. 



The May duke is the best of all of its kind for 

 forcing. A cherry house properly constructed, 

 planted, and managed, is one of the most useful and 

 gratifying exhibitions of the gardener's skill. The 

 beauty, profusion, and deliciousness of the fruit on 

 the tables of the opulent during March, April, and 

 May, is well worth all the expense and care bestowed 

 on their production. An equal and moderate degree 

 of artificial heat, a moist atmosphere, and liberal 

 supply of water, are all that are necessary in a cherry 

 house. When young trees are planted and esta- 

 blished in pots, they may also be forced most suc- 

 cessfully, in any hot house moderately heated : but 

 they cannot bear violent forcing ; nor should it be 

 endeavoured to ripen the fruit sooner than March or 

 April. Budded dwarfs should be preferred for 

 potting, and placed in rich loamy soil. The pots or 

 tubs should be sufficiently large, and room enough 



