Chap. XII.
Cerasus. The Cherry tree.
There are so many varieties and differences of Cherries, that I know not well how to expresse them vnto you, without a large relation of their seuerall formes. I will therefore endeauour after one generall description (as my custome is in many other the like variable fruits) to giue as briefe and short notes vpon all the rest, as I can both for leafe and fruit, that so you may the better know what the fruit is, when you haue the name.
The English Cherrie tree groweth in time to be of a reasonable bignesse and height, spreading great armes, and also small twiggy branches plentifully; the leaues whereof are not verie large or long, but nicked or dented about the edges: the flowers come forth two or three or foure at the most together, at a knot or ioynt, euerie one by it selfe, vpon his owne small and long footestalke, consisting of fiue white leaues, with some threds in the middle; after which come round berries, greene at the first, and red when they are through ripe, of a meane bignesse, and of a pleasant sweete taste, somewhat tart withall, with a hard white stone within it, whose kernell is somewhat bitter, but not vnpleasant.
The Flanders Cherrie differeth not from the English, but that it is somewhat larger, and the Cherry somewhat greater and sweeter, and not so sower.
The early Flanders Cherry is more rathe or early ripe, almost as soone as the May Cherry, especially planted against a wall, and of many false knaues or Gardiners are sold for May Cherrie trees.
The May Cherrie in a standard beareth ripe fruite later then planted against a wall, where the berries will be red in the verie beginning of May sometimes.
The Arch-Dukes Cherrie is one of the fairest and best cherries wee haue, being of a very red colour when it is ripe, and a little long more then round, and somewhat pointed at the end, of the best rellish of any Cherrie whatsoeuer, and of a firme substance; scarce one of twentie of our Nurserie men doe sell the right, but giue one for another: for it is an inherent qualitie almost hereditarie with most of them, to sell any man an ordinary fruit for whatsoeuer rare fruit he shall aske for: so little they are to be trusted.
The ounce Cherrie hath the greatest and broadest leafe of any other cherrie, but beareth the smallest store of cherries euerie yeare that any doth, and yet blossometh well: the fruit also is nothing answerable to the name being not verie great, of a pale yellowish red, neere the colour of Amber, and therefore some haue called it, the Amber Cherrie.
The great leafed Cherrie is thought of diuers to bee the Ounce Cherrie, because it hath almost as great a leafe as the former: but the fruit of this also doth not answer the expectation of so great a leafe, being but of a meane bignesse, and a small bearer, yet of a pale reddish colour.