CHERRY TREES FOR SHADE 
The public is welcome to help itself to these roadside 
cherries. The persons whose properties border these 
roads are supposed to have first call on them if they want 
the fruit of any particular trees. Under these circum¬ 
stances they tie a wisp of straw to a branch which over¬ 
hangs the road. This is a sign which the public respects. 
There are plenty of cherries; so if the land-owner wants 
those of a certain tree, he is welcome to them. 
These cherries have an interesting history in their rela¬ 
tion to the people of Europe. They did not grow on that 
continent until about the time of Caesar. The Roman 
general, Lucullus, returning in 70 b.c. from victorious 
campaigns in Asia Minor, brought seeds of a fruit he had 
eaten there. They were planted, and in due course cher¬ 
ries were grown in Italy. The fruit became popular. 
The Roman legions, in their campaigns, carried cherry 
seeds with them wherever they went. It was thus that 
they came to England in the first century after Christ. 
The cherry thrived throughout most of Europe and has 
been close to the hearts of the people ever since. 
137 
