181. The Olive, (Olea E.uroptea, L. Diandria Monogy nia ; Jasminea, Juss.) which constitutes much of the riches of the south of France, Italy and Spain, with difficulty survives in the mildest parts of our island. Protected dur ing winter in the same way as the myrtle, generally by short litter laid arud the stem, and by a slight tempo rary screen of evergreen branches, it sometimes flowers ; and in some very warm seasons, it has produced a few unripe fruit.
182. The Pishamin, or date-plum, (Diospyros Lotus, L.; Polyganzia Diacia ; Guaiacane, Juss.) is chiefly cultivated on account of its fine shining leaves. Its fruit, however, is relished by some. It is the size of a cherry, of a yellow colour, and eaten, like the medlar, in a state of over-ma turity or incipient decay. The plant is tender for the first year or two ; and even afterwards requires a sheltered situation, and rich but dry soil. It was known in the time of Gerarde, but is still very little attended to in gardens..
183. The Cornelian cherry (Cornus masczzla, L. ; Tetran dria Monogynia ; Caprifoliace, Juss.) was formerly much cultivated as a fruit-tree, and it is enumerated as such in all the old books on gardening. The fruit was used in making tarts, and a rob de corals was kept in the shops. It is now transferred to the shrubbery, where its early flowers, appearing in February and March before the leaves, render it ornamental. The wood is remarkably hard ; so that spears were in ancient times formed of it.
184. Besides the common apple, pear, and quince, se veral others of the Pyrus genus are cultivated. The Chi nese apple (P. spectabilis, L.) is planted in many gardens and shrubberies in the south of England, chiefly on account of its fine show of deep red buds and large blossoms, which appear early in May. It is increased by grafting on crab stocks. Beautiful trees of this kind, some of them above twenty feet high, are to be seen in gardens in the neighbourhood of London. The Siberian crab (P. pru nifolia, L.) is prized chiefly for its elegant little fruit, re sembling large Duke cherries, which are very ornamental in shrubberies, in the autumn and early part of winter. The Small-fruited crab (P. baccata, L.) is planted with the same view. From the fruit of this sort, as we learn from Pallas, the quass or cider of Siberia is made; and we may add, that it makes an excellent preserve with syrup. The Japan angle, (P. Japonica, L.) blossoms and bears fruit, if trained against a south wall ; hut the fruit is of no value. The plant requires to be covered with a bass-matt or close straw-net during winter. The Sorb, or Service-tree, (Pyrus torminalis of Ilort. Kew.; Crategus torminalis, L) is a large tree, growing naturally in some parts of England, as in Hertfordshire, from whence the fruit is brought to London in large quantities in autumn.
It is figured in Sowerby's " English Botany," t. 298. The fruit is of the shape of the common haw, but larger ; of a brownish colour when ripe; if kept till it be soft, in the same way as medlars, it has an agreeable acid flavour. It succeeds in any strong clayey soil ; it is scarcely ever cul tivated as a fruit-tree, but is often planted in lawns and about orchards.
185. The Azarole-tree (Cratergus a:arolus, L.; properly a Mespilus) has a still larger fruit, but does not produce it so freely, being a native of the Levant. \Vhen fully ripe, the fruit has an agreeably acid taste, for which it is so much esteemed in Italy and the south of France, that it is frequently served up in desserts. It is the pomette of the French. In this country it is seldom used.
Native Fruits.
186. Of the genus Prunus, we have several species growing naturally in our woods, and by the banks of rivers. The small black cherry or guigne, (P. cerasus, Eng. Bot.
t. 706,) and the red-fruited variety, commonly distinguish ed as Prunus avium, have already been mentioned, as well as the common wild plum, (P. domestica,) which, if not native, is at least completely naturalized. To these may be added the bullace, the sloe, and the bird-cherry. The Bullace plum (fruit of P. insititia, Eng. Bot. t. 841,) when mellowed by frost, is not unpleasant ; indeed it is one of the best of our native productions. It may be made into an excellent conserve, by mixing the pulp with thrice its weight of sugar. It varies with dark purple or almost black fruit, and light or wax-coloured fruit. The Sloe (fruit of P. spinosa, Eng. Bot. t. 842.) likewise requires to be mellowed by frost. To home-made wines, it is calcu lated to communicate the colour and roughness of red Port ; indeed it is said to enter as an ingredient into the manufacture of this wine. The juice of the unripe fruit forms the German acacia. When the fruit is ripe, the juice affords an almost indelible ink, which is sometimes used for marking linens. Mr Knight (in the London Hor ticultural transactions, vol. i.) seems to consider the sloe as the original species from which all our cultivated plums have been derived ; but on what grounds he passes over the common wild plum and the bullace, which are more nearly allied, he does not. enable us to determine. The Bird cherry, (fruit of P. padus, L. Eng. Bet. t. 1383.) in Scotland the Hag-berry, is, to most palates, nauseous. The fruit is scarcely used, unless occasionally that in Scot land an infusion of it is made in the favourite liquor of the country, whisky.