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.The true Gascoign Cherry is known but to a few; for our Nursery men do so change the names of most fruits they sell, that they deliuer but very few true names to any: In former times before our wilde blacke Cherrie was found to grow plentifully in our owne woods in many places of this Land, the French continually stored vs with wilde stockes to graft vpon, which then were called Gascoigne stocks, but since they haue sotermed another red Cherrie, and obtruded it vpon their customers: but the true is one of our late ripe white Cherries, euen as Gerard saith, it is a great cherrie and spotted: and this is that Cherrie I so commend to be a fit stocke to graft May cherries vpon.The Morello Cherrie is of a reasonable bignesse, of a darke red colour when they are full ripe, and hang long on, of a sweetish sower taste, the pulpe or substance is red, and somewhat firme: if they be dryed they will haue a fine sharpe or sower taste very delectable.The Hartlippe Cherrie is so called of the place where the best of this kinde is noursed vp, being betweene Sittingbourne and Chattam in Kent, and is the biggest of our English kindes.The smaller Lacure or Hart Cherrie is a reasonable faire Cherrie, full aboue, and a little pointing downward, after the fashion of an heart, as it is vsually painted, blackish when it is full ripe, and lesser then the next.The great Lacure or Hart Cherrie differeth not in forme, but in greatnesse, being vsually twice as great as the former, and of a reddish blacke colour also: both of them are of a firme substance, and reasonable sweete. Some doe call the white cherrie, the White hart cherrie.The Luke Wardes Cherrie hath a reasonable large leafe, and a larger flower then many other: the cherries grow with long stalkes, and a stone of a meane size within them, of a darke reddish colour when they are full ripe, of a reasonable good rellish, and beareth well.The Corone Cherrie hath a leafe little differing from the Luke Wardes cherrie; the fruit when it is ripe, is of a faire deepe red colour, of a good bignesse, and of a verie good taste, neither verie sweete or sower: the pulpe or iuice will staine the hands.The Vrinall Cherrie in a most fruitfull yeare is a small bearer, hauing many yeares none, and the best but a few; yet doth blossome plentifully euery yeare for the most part: the cherrie is long and round, like vnto an Vrinall, from whence it tooke his name; reddish when it is full ripe, and of an indifferent sweete rellish.The Agriot Cherrie is but a small Cherrie, of a deepe redde colour when it is ripe, which is late; of a fine sharpe taste, most pleasant and wholsome to the stomacke of all other cherries, as well while they are fresh as being dryed, which manner they much vse in France, and keepe them for the vse both of the sicke and sound at all times.The Biguarre Cherrie is a fair cherrie, much spotted with white spots vpon the pale red berry, and sometimes discoloured halfe white and halfe reddish, of a reasonable good rellish.The Morocco Cherrie hath a large white blossome, and an indifferent big berrie, long and round, with a long stalke of a darke reddish purple colour, a little tending to a blew when it is full ripe, of a firme substance: the iuice is of a blackish red, discolouring the hands or lips, and of a pleasant taste: Some doe thinke that this and the Morello be both one.The Naples Cherrie is also thought to bee all one with the Morello or Morocco.The white Spanish Cherrie is an indifferent good bearer, the leafe and blossome somewhat large, and like the Luke Wardes cherrie: the cherries are reasonable faire berries, with long stalkes and great stones, white on the outside, with some rednesse, on the one side of a firme substance, and reasonable sweet, but with a little aciditie, and is one of the late ripe ones: But there is another late ripe white Cherry, which some call the Gascoigne, before remembred.The Flanders cluster Cherrie is of two sorts, one greater then another: the greater kinde hath an indifferent large leafe; the blossomes haue many threds within them, shewing as it were many parts, which after turne into clusters of berries, foure, fiue or sixe together, and but with one stalke vnder them, as if they grew one out of another, and sometimes they will beare but two or three, and most of them but one cherry on a stalke, which are red when they are ripe, very tender, and waterish sweete in eating.The lesser is in all things like the greater, but smaller, which maketh the difference.The wilde cluster or birds cluster Cherry beareth many blossomes set all along the stalkes, and cherries after them in the same maner, like a long thinne bunch of grapes, and therefore called of some the Grape cherry: there are of them both red and blacke.Page 573: Cherries.1Cerasus præcox.The May Cherry.2Cerasus Batauica.The Flanders Cherry.3Cerasus Hispanica siue alba.The white Cherry.4Cerasus platophyllos.The great leafed Cherry.5Cerasus Luca Wardi.Luke Wards Cherry.6Cerasus Neapolitana.The Naples Cherry.7Cerasus Cordata.The Heart Cherry.8Cerasus maculata.The bignarre or spotted Cherry.9Cerasus auium racemosa.The wilde cluster Cherry.10Cerasus Corymbisera.The Flanders cluster Cherry.11Cerasus Archiducis.The Archdukes Cherry.12Chamacerasus.The dwarfe Cherry.The soft sheld Cherrie is a small red cherrie when it is ripe, hauing the stone within it so soft and tender, that it may easily be broken in the eating of the cherrie.Iohn Tradescantes Cherrie is most vsually sold by our Nursery Gardiners, for the Archdukes cherrie, because they haue more plenty thereof, and will better be increased, and because it is so faire and good a cherrie that it may be obtruded without much discontent: it is a reasonable good bearer, a faire great berrie, deepe coloured, and a little pointed.The Baccalaos or New-found-land Cherrie hath a shining long leafe, most like vnto a Peach leafe, the blossomes come very many together as it were in an vmbell, which is such a cluster as is neither like the Flanders cluster, nor the wilde cluster cherrie blossome: it bringeth forth berries standing in the same manner euerie one vpon his own footestalke, being no bigger then the largest berrie of the red Curran tree or bush, of a pale or waterish red colour when it is ripe.The strange long cluster Cherrie, orPadus Theophrasti Dalechampiois reckoned by the Author of that greatHerballthat goeth vnder his name, among the sorts of cherries; and so must I vntill a fitter place be found for it. It groweth in time to be a great tree, with a sad coloured barke both on the bodie and branches, whereon doe grow many leaues, somewhat broade, shorter, harder, and a little more crumpled then any cherrie leafe: the blossomes are very small, and of a pale or whitish colour, smelling very sweete and strong, or rather heady, like Orenge flowers, growing on small long branches, very like the toppe of flowers vpon the Laburnum or Beane trefoile trees: after which come small blacke berries, growing together all along the long stalke, like vnto the wilde cluster or birds cherrie mentioned before, but not much bigger then tares, with small stones within them, and little or no sustance vpon them: the French call the treePutier, because the wood thereof stinketh, and make it to be wonderfull that the blossomes of the tree mould be so sweete, and the wood so stinking.The Cullen Cherrie is a darke red cherrie like the Agriot, which they of those parts neere Cullen and Vtrecht&c.vse to put into their drinke, to giue it the deeper colour.The great Hungarian Cherrie of Zwerts is like both in leafe and fruite vnto the Morello cherrie, but much greater and fairer, and a far better bearer: for from a small branch hath beene gathered a pound of cherries, and this is vsuall continually, and not accidentally, most of them foure inches in compasse about, and very many of them more of a faire deepe red colour, and very sweete, excelling the Arch-Dukes cherry, or any other whatsoeuer.The Cameleon or strange changeable Cherry deseruedly hath this name, although of mine owne imposition, not only because it beareth vsually both blossomes, greene and ripe fruit at one time thereupon, but that the fruit will be of many formes; some round, some as it were square, and some bunched forth on one side or another, abiding constant in no fashion, but for the most part shewing forth all these diuersities euerie yeare growing vpon it: the fruit is of a very red colour, and good taste.The great Rose Cherry, or double blossomd Cherry differeth not in any thing from the English Cherrie, but only in the blossomes, which are very thicke of white leaues, as great and double as the double white Crowfoote, before remembred, and sometimes out of the middle of them will spring another smaller flower, but double also; this seldome beareth fruit, but when it doth I suppose it commeth from those blossomes are the least double, and is red, no bigger then our ordinary English cherrie.The lesser Rose or double blossomd Cherrie beareth double flowers also, but not so thicke and double as the former; but beareth fruit more plentifully, of the same colour and bignesse with the former.The Dwarfe Cherrie is of two sorts; one whose branches fall downe low, round about the body of it, with small greene leaues, and fruit as small, of a deep red colour.The other, whose branches, although small, grow more vpright, hauing greener shining leaues: the fruit is little bigger then the former, red also when it is ripe, with a litle point at the end: both of them of a sweetish rellish, but more sower.The great bearing Cherry of Master Millen is a reasonable great red cherry, bearing very plentifully, although it bee planted against a North wall, yet it will bee late ripe, but of an indifferent sweet and good rellish.The long finger Cherry is another small long red one, being long & round like a finger, wherof it took the name: this is not the Vrinall cherry before, but differing from it.The Vse of Cherries.All these sorts of Cherries serue wholly to please the palate, and are eaten at all times, both before and after meales.All Cherries are cold, yet the sower more then the sweete; and although the sweete doe most please, yet the sower are more wholsome, if there bee regard taken in the vsing.The Agriot or sower Cherries are in France much vsed to bee dryed (as is said before) as Pruines are, and so serue to be ministred to the sicke in all hot diseases, as feuers&c.being both boyled in their drinkes, and taken now and then of themselues, which by reason of their tartnesse, doe please the stomacke passing well.The Gum of the Cherrie tree is commended to bee good for those are troubled with the grauell or stone. It is also good for the cough being dissolued in liquour, and stirreth vp an appetite. The distilled water of the blacke Cherries, the stones being broken among them, is vsed for the same purpose, for the grauell, stone, and winde.
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.The true Gascoign Cherry is known but to a few; for our Nursery men do so change the names of most fruits they sell, that they deliuer but very few true names to any: In former times before our wilde blacke Cherrie was found to grow plentifully in our owne woods in many places of this Land, the French continually stored vs with wilde stockes to graft vpon, which then were called Gascoigne stocks, but since they haue sotermed another red Cherrie, and obtruded it vpon their customers: but the true is one of our late ripe white Cherries, euen as Gerard saith, it is a great cherrie and spotted: and this is that Cherrie I so commend to be a fit stocke to graft May cherries vpon.The Morello Cherrie is of a reasonable bignesse, of a darke red colour when they are full ripe, and hang long on, of a sweetish sower taste, the pulpe or substance is red, and somewhat firme: if they be dryed they will haue a fine sharpe or sower taste very delectable.The Hartlippe Cherrie is so called of the place where the best of this kinde is noursed vp, being betweene Sittingbourne and Chattam in Kent, and is the biggest of our English kindes.The smaller Lacure or Hart Cherrie is a reasonable faire Cherrie, full aboue, and a little pointing downward, after the fashion of an heart, as it is vsually painted, blackish when it is full ripe, and lesser then the next.The great Lacure or Hart Cherrie differeth not in forme, but in greatnesse, being vsually twice as great as the former, and of a reddish blacke colour also: both of them are of a firme substance, and reasonable sweete. Some doe call the white cherrie, the White hart cherrie.The Luke Wardes Cherrie hath a reasonable large leafe, and a larger flower then many other: the cherries grow with long stalkes, and a stone of a meane size within them, of a darke reddish colour when they are full ripe, of a reasonable good rellish, and beareth well.The Corone Cherrie hath a leafe little differing from the Luke Wardes cherrie; the fruit when it is ripe, is of a faire deepe red colour, of a good bignesse, and of a verie good taste, neither verie sweete or sower: the pulpe or iuice will staine the hands.The Vrinall Cherrie in a most fruitfull yeare is a small bearer, hauing many yeares none, and the best but a few; yet doth blossome plentifully euery yeare for the most part: the cherrie is long and round, like vnto an Vrinall, from whence it tooke his name; reddish when it is full ripe, and of an indifferent sweete rellish.The Agriot Cherrie is but a small Cherrie, of a deepe redde colour when it is ripe, which is late; of a fine sharpe taste, most pleasant and wholsome to the stomacke of all other cherries, as well while they are fresh as being dryed, which manner they much vse in France, and keepe them for the vse both of the sicke and sound at all times.The Biguarre Cherrie is a fair cherrie, much spotted with white spots vpon the pale red berry, and sometimes discoloured halfe white and halfe reddish, of a reasonable good rellish.The Morocco Cherrie hath a large white blossome, and an indifferent big berrie, long and round, with a long stalke of a darke reddish purple colour, a little tending to a blew when it is full ripe, of a firme substance: the iuice is of a blackish red, discolouring the hands or lips, and of a pleasant taste: Some doe thinke that this and the Morello be both one.The Naples Cherrie is also thought to bee all one with the Morello or Morocco.The white Spanish Cherrie is an indifferent good bearer, the leafe and blossome somewhat large, and like the Luke Wardes cherrie: the cherries are reasonable faire berries, with long stalkes and great stones, white on the outside, with some rednesse, on the one side of a firme substance, and reasonable sweet, but with a little aciditie, and is one of the late ripe ones: But there is another late ripe white Cherry, which some call the Gascoigne, before remembred.The Flanders cluster Cherrie is of two sorts, one greater then another: the greater kinde hath an indifferent large leafe; the blossomes haue many threds within them, shewing as it were many parts, which after turne into clusters of berries, foure, fiue or sixe together, and but with one stalke vnder them, as if they grew one out of another, and sometimes they will beare but two or three, and most of them but one cherry on a stalke, which are red when they are ripe, very tender, and waterish sweete in eating.The lesser is in all things like the greater, but smaller, which maketh the difference.The wilde cluster or birds cluster Cherry beareth many blossomes set all along the stalkes, and cherries after them in the same maner, like a long thinne bunch of grapes, and therefore called of some the Grape cherry: there are of them both red and blacke.Page 573: Cherries.1Cerasus præcox.The May Cherry.2Cerasus Batauica.The Flanders Cherry.3Cerasus Hispanica siue alba.The white Cherry.4Cerasus platophyllos.The great leafed Cherry.5Cerasus Luca Wardi.Luke Wards Cherry.6Cerasus Neapolitana.The Naples Cherry.7Cerasus Cordata.The Heart Cherry.8Cerasus maculata.The bignarre or spotted Cherry.9Cerasus auium racemosa.The wilde cluster Cherry.10Cerasus Corymbisera.The Flanders cluster Cherry.11Cerasus Archiducis.The Archdukes Cherry.12Chamacerasus.The dwarfe Cherry.The soft sheld Cherrie is a small red cherrie when it is ripe, hauing the stone within it so soft and tender, that it may easily be broken in the eating of the cherrie.Iohn Tradescantes Cherrie is most vsually sold by our Nursery Gardiners, for the Archdukes cherrie, because they haue more plenty thereof, and will better be increased, and because it is so faire and good a cherrie that it may be obtruded without much discontent: it is a reasonable good bearer, a faire great berrie, deepe coloured, and a little pointed.The Baccalaos or New-found-land Cherrie hath a shining long leafe, most like vnto a Peach leafe, the blossomes come very many together as it were in an vmbell, which is such a cluster as is neither like the Flanders cluster, nor the wilde cluster cherrie blossome: it bringeth forth berries standing in the same manner euerie one vpon his own footestalke, being no bigger then the largest berrie of the red Curran tree or bush, of a pale or waterish red colour when it is ripe.The strange long cluster Cherrie, orPadus Theophrasti Dalechampiois reckoned by the Author of that greatHerballthat goeth vnder his name, among the sorts of cherries; and so must I vntill a fitter place be found for it. It groweth in time to be a great tree, with a sad coloured barke both on the bodie and branches, whereon doe grow many leaues, somewhat broade, shorter, harder, and a little more crumpled then any cherrie leafe: the blossomes are very small, and of a pale or whitish colour, smelling very sweete and strong, or rather heady, like Orenge flowers, growing on small long branches, very like the toppe of flowers vpon the Laburnum or Beane trefoile trees: after which come small blacke berries, growing together all along the long stalke, like vnto the wilde cluster or birds cherrie mentioned before, but not much bigger then tares, with small stones within them, and little or no sustance vpon them: the French call the treePutier, because the wood thereof stinketh, and make it to be wonderfull that the blossomes of the tree mould be so sweete, and the wood so stinking.The Cullen Cherrie is a darke red cherrie like the Agriot, which they of those parts neere Cullen and Vtrecht&c.vse to put into their drinke, to giue it the deeper colour.The great Hungarian Cherrie of Zwerts is like both in leafe and fruite vnto the Morello cherrie, but much greater and fairer, and a far better bearer: for from a small branch hath beene gathered a pound of cherries, and this is vsuall continually, and not accidentally, most of them foure inches in compasse about, and very many of them more of a faire deepe red colour, and very sweete, excelling the Arch-Dukes cherry, or any other whatsoeuer.The Cameleon or strange changeable Cherry deseruedly hath this name, although of mine owne imposition, not only because it beareth vsually both blossomes, greene and ripe fruit at one time thereupon, but that the fruit will be of many formes; some round, some as it were square, and some bunched forth on one side or another, abiding constant in no fashion, but for the most part shewing forth all these diuersities euerie yeare growing vpon it: the fruit is of a very red colour, and good taste.The great Rose Cherry, or double blossomd Cherry differeth not in any thing from the English Cherrie, but only in the blossomes, which are very thicke of white leaues, as great and double as the double white Crowfoote, before remembred, and sometimes out of the middle of them will spring another smaller flower, but double also; this seldome beareth fruit, but when it doth I suppose it commeth from those blossomes are the least double, and is red, no bigger then our ordinary English cherrie.The lesser Rose or double blossomd Cherrie beareth double flowers also, but not so thicke and double as the former; but beareth fruit more plentifully, of the same colour and bignesse with the former.The Dwarfe Cherrie is of two sorts; one whose branches fall downe low, round about the body of it, with small greene leaues, and fruit as small, of a deep red colour.The other, whose branches, although small, grow more vpright, hauing greener shining leaues: the fruit is little bigger then the former, red also when it is ripe, with a litle point at the end: both of them of a sweetish rellish, but more sower.The great bearing Cherry of Master Millen is a reasonable great red cherry, bearing very plentifully, although it bee planted against a North wall, yet it will bee late ripe, but of an indifferent sweet and good rellish.The long finger Cherry is another small long red one, being long & round like a finger, wherof it took the name: this is not the Vrinall cherry before, but differing from it.The Vse of Cherries.All these sorts of Cherries serue wholly to please the palate, and are eaten at all times, both before and after meales.All Cherries are cold, yet the sower more then the sweete; and although the sweete doe most please, yet the sower are more wholsome, if there bee regard taken in the vsing.The Agriot or sower Cherries are in France much vsed to bee dryed (as is said before) as Pruines are, and so serue to be ministred to the sicke in all hot diseases, as feuers&c.being both boyled in their drinkes, and taken now and then of themselues, which by reason of their tartnesse, doe please the stomacke passing well.The Gum of the Cherrie tree is commended to bee good for those are troubled with the grauell or stone. It is also good for the cough being dissolued in liquour, and stirreth vp an appetite. The distilled water of the blacke Cherries, the stones being broken among them, is vsed for the same purpose, for the grauell, stone, and winde.
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.
The true Gascoign Cherry is known but to a few; for our Nursery men do so change the names of most fruits they sell, that they deliuer but very few true names to any: In former times before our wilde blacke Cherrie was found to grow plentifully in our owne woods in many places of this Land, the French continually stored vs with wilde stockes to graft vpon, which then were called Gascoigne stocks, but since they haue sotermed another red Cherrie, and obtruded it vpon their customers: but the true is one of our late ripe white Cherries, euen as Gerard saith, it is a great cherrie and spotted: and this is that Cherrie I so commend to be a fit stocke to graft May cherries vpon.
The Morello Cherrie is of a reasonable bignesse, of a darke red colour when they are full ripe, and hang long on, of a sweetish sower taste, the pulpe or substance is red, and somewhat firme: if they be dryed they will haue a fine sharpe or sower taste very delectable.
The Hartlippe Cherrie is so called of the place where the best of this kinde is noursed vp, being betweene Sittingbourne and Chattam in Kent, and is the biggest of our English kindes.
The smaller Lacure or Hart Cherrie is a reasonable faire Cherrie, full aboue, and a little pointing downward, after the fashion of an heart, as it is vsually painted, blackish when it is full ripe, and lesser then the next.
The great Lacure or Hart Cherrie differeth not in forme, but in greatnesse, being vsually twice as great as the former, and of a reddish blacke colour also: both of them are of a firme substance, and reasonable sweete. Some doe call the white cherrie, the White hart cherrie.
The Luke Wardes Cherrie hath a reasonable large leafe, and a larger flower then many other: the cherries grow with long stalkes, and a stone of a meane size within them, of a darke reddish colour when they are full ripe, of a reasonable good rellish, and beareth well.
The Corone Cherrie hath a leafe little differing from the Luke Wardes cherrie; the fruit when it is ripe, is of a faire deepe red colour, of a good bignesse, and of a verie good taste, neither verie sweete or sower: the pulpe or iuice will staine the hands.
The Vrinall Cherrie in a most fruitfull yeare is a small bearer, hauing many yeares none, and the best but a few; yet doth blossome plentifully euery yeare for the most part: the cherrie is long and round, like vnto an Vrinall, from whence it tooke his name; reddish when it is full ripe, and of an indifferent sweete rellish.
The Agriot Cherrie is but a small Cherrie, of a deepe redde colour when it is ripe, which is late; of a fine sharpe taste, most pleasant and wholsome to the stomacke of all other cherries, as well while they are fresh as being dryed, which manner they much vse in France, and keepe them for the vse both of the sicke and sound at all times.
The Biguarre Cherrie is a fair cherrie, much spotted with white spots vpon the pale red berry, and sometimes discoloured halfe white and halfe reddish, of a reasonable good rellish.
The Morocco Cherrie hath a large white blossome, and an indifferent big berrie, long and round, with a long stalke of a darke reddish purple colour, a little tending to a blew when it is full ripe, of a firme substance: the iuice is of a blackish red, discolouring the hands or lips, and of a pleasant taste: Some doe thinke that this and the Morello be both one.
The Naples Cherrie is also thought to bee all one with the Morello or Morocco.
The white Spanish Cherrie is an indifferent good bearer, the leafe and blossome somewhat large, and like the Luke Wardes cherrie: the cherries are reasonable faire berries, with long stalkes and great stones, white on the outside, with some rednesse, on the one side of a firme substance, and reasonable sweet, but with a little aciditie, and is one of the late ripe ones: But there is another late ripe white Cherry, which some call the Gascoigne, before remembred.
The Flanders cluster Cherrie is of two sorts, one greater then another: the greater kinde hath an indifferent large leafe; the blossomes haue many threds within them, shewing as it were many parts, which after turne into clusters of berries, foure, fiue or sixe together, and but with one stalke vnder them, as if they grew one out of another, and sometimes they will beare but two or three, and most of them but one cherry on a stalke, which are red when they are ripe, very tender, and waterish sweete in eating.
The lesser is in all things like the greater, but smaller, which maketh the difference.
The wilde cluster or birds cluster Cherry beareth many blossomes set all along the stalkes, and cherries after them in the same maner, like a long thinne bunch of grapes, and therefore called of some the Grape cherry: there are of them both red and blacke.
Page 573: Cherries.1Cerasus præcox.The May Cherry.2Cerasus Batauica.The Flanders Cherry.3Cerasus Hispanica siue alba.The white Cherry.4Cerasus platophyllos.The great leafed Cherry.5Cerasus Luca Wardi.Luke Wards Cherry.6Cerasus Neapolitana.The Naples Cherry.7Cerasus Cordata.The Heart Cherry.8Cerasus maculata.The bignarre or spotted Cherry.9Cerasus auium racemosa.The wilde cluster Cherry.10Cerasus Corymbisera.The Flanders cluster Cherry.11Cerasus Archiducis.The Archdukes Cherry.12Chamacerasus.The dwarfe Cherry.
The soft sheld Cherrie is a small red cherrie when it is ripe, hauing the stone within it so soft and tender, that it may easily be broken in the eating of the cherrie.
Iohn Tradescantes Cherrie is most vsually sold by our Nursery Gardiners, for the Archdukes cherrie, because they haue more plenty thereof, and will better be increased, and because it is so faire and good a cherrie that it may be obtruded without much discontent: it is a reasonable good bearer, a faire great berrie, deepe coloured, and a little pointed.
The Baccalaos or New-found-land Cherrie hath a shining long leafe, most like vnto a Peach leafe, the blossomes come very many together as it were in an vmbell, which is such a cluster as is neither like the Flanders cluster, nor the wilde cluster cherrie blossome: it bringeth forth berries standing in the same manner euerie one vpon his own footestalke, being no bigger then the largest berrie of the red Curran tree or bush, of a pale or waterish red colour when it is ripe.
The strange long cluster Cherrie, orPadus Theophrasti Dalechampiois reckoned by the Author of that greatHerballthat goeth vnder his name, among the sorts of cherries; and so must I vntill a fitter place be found for it. It groweth in time to be a great tree, with a sad coloured barke both on the bodie and branches, whereon doe grow many leaues, somewhat broade, shorter, harder, and a little more crumpled then any cherrie leafe: the blossomes are very small, and of a pale or whitish colour, smelling very sweete and strong, or rather heady, like Orenge flowers, growing on small long branches, very like the toppe of flowers vpon the Laburnum or Beane trefoile trees: after which come small blacke berries, growing together all along the long stalke, like vnto the wilde cluster or birds cherrie mentioned before, but not much bigger then tares, with small stones within them, and little or no sustance vpon them: the French call the treePutier, because the wood thereof stinketh, and make it to be wonderfull that the blossomes of the tree mould be so sweete, and the wood so stinking.
The Cullen Cherrie is a darke red cherrie like the Agriot, which they of those parts neere Cullen and Vtrecht&c.vse to put into their drinke, to giue it the deeper colour.
The great Hungarian Cherrie of Zwerts is like both in leafe and fruite vnto the Morello cherrie, but much greater and fairer, and a far better bearer: for from a small branch hath beene gathered a pound of cherries, and this is vsuall continually, and not accidentally, most of them foure inches in compasse about, and very many of them more of a faire deepe red colour, and very sweete, excelling the Arch-Dukes cherry, or any other whatsoeuer.
The Cameleon or strange changeable Cherry deseruedly hath this name, although of mine owne imposition, not only because it beareth vsually both blossomes, greene and ripe fruit at one time thereupon, but that the fruit will be of many formes; some round, some as it were square, and some bunched forth on one side or another, abiding constant in no fashion, but for the most part shewing forth all these diuersities euerie yeare growing vpon it: the fruit is of a very red colour, and good taste.
The great Rose Cherry, or double blossomd Cherry differeth not in any thing from the English Cherrie, but only in the blossomes, which are very thicke of white leaues, as great and double as the double white Crowfoote, before remembred, and sometimes out of the middle of them will spring another smaller flower, but double also; this seldome beareth fruit, but when it doth I suppose it commeth from those blossomes are the least double, and is red, no bigger then our ordinary English cherrie.
The lesser Rose or double blossomd Cherrie beareth double flowers also, but not so thicke and double as the former; but beareth fruit more plentifully, of the same colour and bignesse with the former.
The Dwarfe Cherrie is of two sorts; one whose branches fall downe low, round about the body of it, with small greene leaues, and fruit as small, of a deep red colour.
The other, whose branches, although small, grow more vpright, hauing greener shining leaues: the fruit is little bigger then the former, red also when it is ripe, with a litle point at the end: both of them of a sweetish rellish, but more sower.
The great bearing Cherry of Master Millen is a reasonable great red cherry, bearing very plentifully, although it bee planted against a North wall, yet it will bee late ripe, but of an indifferent sweet and good rellish.
The long finger Cherry is another small long red one, being long & round like a finger, wherof it took the name: this is not the Vrinall cherry before, but differing from it.
The Vse of Cherries.All these sorts of Cherries serue wholly to please the palate, and are eaten at all times, both before and after meales.All Cherries are cold, yet the sower more then the sweete; and although the sweete doe most please, yet the sower are more wholsome, if there bee regard taken in the vsing.The Agriot or sower Cherries are in France much vsed to bee dryed (as is said before) as Pruines are, and so serue to be ministred to the sicke in all hot diseases, as feuers&c.being both boyled in their drinkes, and taken now and then of themselues, which by reason of their tartnesse, doe please the stomacke passing well.The Gum of the Cherrie tree is commended to bee good for those are troubled with the grauell or stone. It is also good for the cough being dissolued in liquour, and stirreth vp an appetite. The distilled water of the blacke Cherries, the stones being broken among them, is vsed for the same purpose, for the grauell, stone, and winde.
All these sorts of Cherries serue wholly to please the palate, and are eaten at all times, both before and after meales.
All Cherries are cold, yet the sower more then the sweete; and although the sweete doe most please, yet the sower are more wholsome, if there bee regard taken in the vsing.
The Agriot or sower Cherries are in France much vsed to bee dryed (as is said before) as Pruines are, and so serue to be ministred to the sicke in all hot diseases, as feuers&c.being both boyled in their drinkes, and taken now and then of themselues, which by reason of their tartnesse, doe please the stomacke passing well.
The Gum of the Cherrie tree is commended to bee good for those are troubled with the grauell or stone. It is also good for the cough being dissolued in liquour, and stirreth vp an appetite. The distilled water of the blacke Cherries, the stones being broken among them, is vsed for the same purpose, for the grauell, stone, and winde.