236 
CULTURE OF CHERRIES. 
duces, and it Appears probable that in this part of England, the trees 
were first planted. It was supposed that during the Saxon period, 
the whole race of cherries brought to this country by the Romans 
were wholly lost, and, during the reign of Henry VIII. they were 
re-introduced from Flanders, but the writings of Gerarde seems to 
prove they were not wholly lost, for he says “ the Flanders cherrie 
differeth not from our English cherrie,” &c. 
The Cherry seems to have been an highly esteemed fruit by the 
court, in the time of Charles the first, as in the gardens of his Queen 
at Wimbleton, in Surry, there were upwards of 200 trees. 
Cherries, when eaten to excess, are unwholesome, and vice versa. 
It has been asserted, (upon what authority we know not,) that if 
eaten fresh from the tree, while the morning dew is npon them, 
swallowing the stones also, they will purge so effectually as to cure 
those who have the gout in their feet. When dried they are much 
esteemed for winter puddings ; and the wine made from this fruit 
much resembles Red Constantia, both in colour and flavour. The 
small black ones, with good brandy, produce one of the most whole¬ 
some, as well as agreeable liqueurs. The gum which exudes from the 
tree is analagous to Gum Tragacanth. A variety of the small fruited 
Bird-Cherry (Cerasus avium) is used in the Vosges and the Black 
Forest, for the preparation of the liquor known by the name of 
“ Kirschenwasser,” and the leaves are employed as a substitute for 
tea. The kernel of the C. occidentalis, is used for flavouring the 
liquor Noyau. Dr. Clarke says, the Swedes flavour their distilled 
spirits with the blossoms. The Finlanders use a strong decoction of 
the bark to cure syphilitic complaints. A decoction of the fruit is 
sometimes given in dysentry. The wood is next to oak for strength, 
and, has some resemblance to mahogany; it is much in request for 
making chairs, musical instruments, &c. The timber comes to per¬ 
fection in about forty years. 
At Hamburgh there is an annual feast celebrated, called the 
‘‘feast of cherries,” when children, carrying green boughs ornamen¬ 
ted with cherries, parade the streets ; it originated in the following 
circumstance : In 1432, the Hussites threatened the city with imme¬ 
diate destruction. The citizens, at the suggestion of a person named 
Wolf, agreed in this emergency to send all the children, from 7 to 14 
years of age in mourning as supplicants to the enemy. The chief 
of the Hussites was so touched at this spectacle, that he received the 
young supplicants, regaled them with cherries and other fruits, and 
promised them to spare the city. The children returned crowned 
with leaves, holding cherries and crying “victory !” 
