182 A DISCOURSE 



BOOK I. bottom be gravel, tliey will thrive into stately trees, beautified with 

 '^'^'^^ blossoms of a surprising whiteness, greatly relieving the sedulous bees, 

 and attracting birds. 



If you sow them in beds immediately after they are excarnated, they 

 will appear the following spring, and then, at two years shoot, be fit 

 to plant out where you please ; otherwise, being kept too long ere you 

 sow them, they will sleep two winters : And this is a rule which he 

 prescribes for all sorts of stone-fruit. 



You may almost at any time remove young Cherry-trees, abating the 

 heads to a single shoot. 



He recommends it for the copse, as producing a strong shoot, and 

 as apt to put forth from the roots as the Elm, especially if you fell lusty 

 trees : In light ground it will increase to a goodly tall tree, of which 

 he mentions one that held above eighty-five feet in height. I have 

 myself planted of them, and imparted to my friends, which have thrived 

 exceedingly ; but till now did not insert it among the foresters : The 

 virtues of the fruit of this Cherry-tree against the epilepsy, palsy, and 

 convulsions, are in the spirits and distilled waters. Concerning its other 

 uses, see the chapter above-mentioned. This tree affords excellent 

 stocks for the budding and graffing of other Cherries on. 



And here I might mention the Bitter Cherry of Canada (though 

 exceedingly unlike to ours,) which should yet be propagated for the 

 incomparable liquor it is said to yield, preferable to the best lemonade, 

 by an incision of two inches deep in the stem, and sloping to the length 

 of a foot, without prejudice to the tree p. What is said of it, and of the 

 IVIaple, in the late discovery of North America, may be seen in the 

 late description of those countries. For other exotic species, vide Raii 

 Dendrolog. torn. ii. p. 45, 46. 



P The Canada Cherry-tree is titled, PRUNUS fcAUADENSisJ floribus racemosis, foliis 

 lato-lanceolatis rugosis utrinque pubescentibus. Lin. Sp. PI. 678. Cerasus pumila Canadensis, 

 oblongo angusto folio, fructu parvo. Duham. Arb. 1. p. 149. 



This is a low shrub, seldom rising higher than four feet. It puts out lateral branches, 

 which, lying near the ground, readily take root, by which it multiplies fast. The fruit 

 resembles our small wild Cherry, but has a bitter taste, and is only agreeable to birds. It 

 flowers at the same time with the other Cherry-trees, and ripens its fruit in July. It is 

 easily propagated by layers, or it may be raised from the stones. 



