NURSERY AND PLANTING. 



'?3 



leather, on account of its antiseptic quality. The residuum is 

 thick and sooty, and is employed for various common uses. 



Of this genus there are seventeen species enumerated in the 

 Hortus Brittanicus, ten of which are natives of North-America, 

 two of Britain, and the remainder of various parts of Europe. 

 Some of the American species have merits as timber-trees, 

 but those of Europe, excepting the B. alba, and its varieties, 

 are merely cultivated for ornament. All or most of them are 

 originated from seeds, which they ripen in their native habi- 

 tats. The varieties of either may be successfully increased 

 by grafting and inarching on the common sort. 



Cherry or Gean. — ( Pnmus,) 



The common cherry. Primus cerassus, is considered as 

 indigenous to this country, and is found in so many situations, 

 and under such a variety of circumstances, as seems to justify 

 the conclusion. The wild cherry, or gean of the Scotch, is 

 a different species, and described under the name of Pninns 

 avium, or pubescent-leaved cherry. Both attain a consider- 

 able size ; but the latter is by far the most valuable timber-tree. 

 The wild-cherry, or gean, considered as a fruit-bearing tree, has 

 considerable merits, and many varieties of it are to be met with in 

 the gardens of the Scotch, who are fond of the fruit. Considered 

 as a timber or ornamental tree, it has also considerable merits, 

 and adds much to the beauty of our woods, groves, and parks, 

 in spring, with its profusion of snow-white flowers, and in autumn 

 by the varied and rich hues its decaying foliage gives the land- 

 scape ; a circumstance often noticed and availed of by the artist. 

 The &oil and situation most congenial to the wild-cherry, are 

 that of a sandy loam, on low ground or sloping banks. In wet 

 cold soils it seldom succeeds ; and if planted in rich soils, al- 

 though it attains there a considerable bulk, becomes much less 

 valuable, the timber being soft, light coloured, and of no dura- 

 bility ; whereas, in sandy loamy soils, it becomes hard and 

 beautifully variegated in tlie wood, and of great durability. 



The wild cherry is propagated from seeds, which are ripe in 

 July, and may be either sown immediately, or preserved in 

 »and till spring ; it requires to be planted out in nursery lines 



