All of these three varieties possess valuable qualities, and deserve the attention of cultivators in every part of the country. The only plants of these yet brought to Scotland, as far as we know, are in the garden of Sir George Mackenzie, Bart. at Coul in Ross-shire, where, as it is situate far to the northward, their qualities in re gard to climate will be put to the proof. They who pos sess opportunities should also attempt the production of new kinds. The cherry, it is believed, sports more ex tensively in variety when raised from seed than almost any other fruit ; and Mr Knight justly remarks, that it is probably capable of acquiring a higher state of perfection than it has yet attained.
105. The finer kinds of cherries are trained against the wall, chiefly in the fan manner : they are placed about twenty-four feet distant from each other, and, at the first planting, a temporary tree is usually put in between each. When favoured with a south aspect, they not only pro duce early, but large and excellent fruit, highly worthy of a place in the dessert. To prolong the cherry season, some of the duke and heart varieties are generally placed against a west wall. The morello, being chiefly wanted for preserves, has frequently a north aspect assigned to it. This variety in so far differs in habit from the others, that it is produced rather on the young wood of the former year than on spurs ; it is necessary, therefore, at the time of pruning, to have a supply of young wood in view. Cherry-trees are sometimes trained on espalier rails ; and in this case, as in wall-trees, it is a great object to keep up a stock of young wood, or at least a quantity of young spurs, or curzons. The branches are generally tied to the rails by means of willow-twigs, or strands of bass matting. All stone-fruit trees being liable to become gummy at places where they arc galled, attention is ne cessary that the tyings do not injure the bark. Cherries, it may be added, succeed much better as half-standards or dwarf standards than as espalier-trees.
It is a general rule to bud or graft cherries at the height where the head is intended to begin. Some pre fer having only two main branches for a wall cherry-tree ; but three branches are, in general, found more com modious. Miller suggests, that budding heart cherries on stocks of the birdcherry (Prunus padus), might have a similar effect-as grafting apples on paradise stocks ; that not only might the tree be thus kept in less compass, but rendered more fruitful.
In prunning cherry-trees, the shoots are not shortened, for they produce many fruit-buds at the extremities. It is a common remark of practical gardeners, that cherry trees dislike the knife. The branches therefore are trained at lull length, superfluous fore-right shoots being displaced by the hand in the early part of summer. Much fruit is produced on small side-spurs proceeding from wood two or three years old ; these side-spurs are there fore carefully preserved.
When the fruit begins to colour, it is assailed by black birds, jays, and other birds. The most effectual remedy is found in hanging a net in front of the tree, or over it, if it be an espalier or dwarf-standard. In gathering the fruit, care should be taken not to break the fruit-spurs, which are very brittle : to atoid the risk of this, some gardeners are at the pains to cut the fruit-stalks with a pair of small scissars.
106. The 411de-tree (Pyrus Malus, var. L ) be longs to the class Icosandria, order Pentagynia, and natu ral order Rosacem of Jussieu. The crab-tree, P. is a native of various parts of Britain, and is figured in English Botany, t. 179. Like the wild pear, it is armed with thorns. Many of the cultivated kinds have been im ported from the continent at different times ; and many others have been raised from the seed in this country. Ray, in the close of the 17th century, described seventy eight sorts, then accounted good : several of these still retain their character, but many more have either lost it, or have entirely disappeared. The costard-apple, which was then so commonly sold in London that dealers in ap ples were styled costard-mongers, is not now known. At this time among the favourite cider apples were the red st•eak, the golden-pippin, the gennet-moil, the white and red masts or musts, the fox-whelp, and the stire ; all of which, as remarked by Mr Knight, are now fast hasten ing to decay and extinction. Several new apples, how ever, possessed of excellent qualities, have of late years been brought into notice ; and so many amateurs of gar dening are now engaged in raising new varieties from seed, that there seems little reason to apprehend a de ficiency. This is as it should be ; the apple being doubt less the most useful of the fruits freely produced in this country.