the absence of Christian precepts. Padus, a word of 
uncertain meaning, is believed to be the ancient 
Greek name of the Bird Cherry, it is therefore 
retained as our specific appellation. To man the 
fruit is nauseous, but to many sorts of birds is par- 
ticularly acceptable — hence the name Bird Cherry, 
or Fowl Cherry. In Scotland it is called Hag- 
berry. 
The Bird Cherry is wild nearly all over Europe, 
and in many parts of Asia. It is exceedingly hardy, 
being known as far north as Lapland and Siberia ; 
and in our own country it is sometimes met with in 
a wild state, but less frequently, perhaps, than two 
hundred and fifty years ago, when Gerard said It 
groweth in the wild woods of Kent, and is there 
used for stocks to graft other Cherries upon, of 
better taste, and more profit, as especially those 
called the Flanders Cherries: this wild tree grows 
very plentifully in the North of England, and in 
Lancashire almost in every hedge.” 
It is generally met with as a large shrub, or 
small tree; still, in favourable situations, it attains 
the size of a moderate timber tree ; and its wood, 
which has a yellowish tint, and close texture, is well 
suited to the purposes of the cabinet maker. Its 
fruit, disagreeable as it is to the palate, is said to 
be used on the continent, in brandy and wines, to 
give them a pleasant flavour. Its foliage is so 
attractive to some species of catterpillers that a 
continental journalist advised that it should be 
planted in woods as a decoy for them. 
It may be readily propagated either by layering, 
or from seeds. 
