CE'RASUS PA'DUS. 
BIRD CHERRY. 
Class. 
ICOSANDRIA. 
Order. 
MONOGYNIA. 
Natural Order. 
ROSACEA. 
Native of 
Height, 
Flowers in 
Habit. 
Inhabits 
Britain. 
30 feet 
April, May. 
Tree. 
Woods. 
No. 946. 
Cerasus is the genus which includes our common 
Cherry, as well as the ornamental tree now figured, 
and between twenty and thirty other species. This 
generic name is intimately connected with ancient 
history. It is related by Pliny, that previous to the 
war of Lucius Lucullus against the hateful Mithri- 
dates, king of Pontus, the Cherry had not been 
cultivated in Italy. This was above seventy years 
before the birth of our Saviour. The victory of 
Lucullus gave to Italy some of the natural as well 
as artificial riches of Pontus, and amongst them was 
the Cherry ; which was brought from Cerasus, in 
Pontus, and therefrom received its present generic 
name. Amongst the artificial riches acquired at that 
remote period was the celebrated colossal statue, in 
oriental marble — the Apollo Capitollinus, thirty ells 
in height, portions of which are still, we believe, to 
be seen in the Capitol at Rome. These are associ- 
ations not unimportant to the young historian; and 
whilst he enjoys his cherries, his thoughts will natu- 
rally revert back to the effects amongst an eastern 
people, of pomp and power unswayed by the laws of 
morality; and to scenes of barbarity and guilt, in 
