Adam in Eden, or, Natures paradise the history of plants, fruits, herbs and flowers with their several names ... the places where they grow, their descriptions and kinds, their times of flourishing and decreasing as also their several signatures, anatomical appropriations and particular physical vertues together with necessary observations on the seasons of planting and gathering of our English simples with directions how to preserve them in their compositions or otherwise : ... there is annexed a Latin and English table of the several names of simples, with another more particular table of the diseases and their cures ... / by William Coles ...

CHAP. CLXXIII. Of the Cherry-Tree.

The Names.

IT is called in Greek 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, and the fruit 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, in Latin Cerasus and Ce∣rasa. In most other plants and fruits, the Latin name is derived from the Greeks: but in these the Greek from the Latin, for Athenaeus and Pliny write that after L. Lucullus had overcome Mithridates, he brought this Tree from Cerasumpta in Pontus into Italy, and gave it the name C••rasus from the place whence he had it.

The Kinds.

There are many sorts of Cherries, but I shall make mention but of some of them, 1. The May Cherry, 2. The Early Flaunders Cherry, 3. The Late Flaun∣ders Cherry, 4. The Black Hart Cherry, 5. The Red Hart Cherry, 6. The Great Bearing Cherry of Mr. Millen, 7. The Ordinary Cherry. 8. The Prince Cher∣ry, 9. The Duke Cherry, 10. Birds Cherry, 11. The Common Black Cherry-Tree, 12. The Red Grape Cherry-Tree, 13. The least wild Heart Cherry-Tree, 14. The Wild Cherry-Tree.

The Form.

The Cherry-Tree riseth up to a reasonable height and greatnesse, spreading well and somewhat thick, the Leaves are near unto those of the Plum-Tree for Form, but somewhat longer in most, and dented about the Edges; the Flowers come forth two or three or four at most at a place or Joynt together, every one on his own Footstalk: consisting of five whire Leaves with some Threds, in the middle, after which come Round Berries green at first, but Red or Black when they are full ripe; of a mean bignesse and pleasant tast, with a hard white small stone within it, whose Kernell is somewhat bitter but not unpleasant.

The Places and Times.

Divers of these Sorts are inhabitants in the Gardens of those that love variety of pleasant fruit, and severall others also, growing either as Standards or Wall-Trees. The ordinary Cherries grow most familiary in Kent, and there are abundance of Black Cherries grow in Harfordshire, but the Birds Cherrie groweth wild in Kent, as also in Westmerland and Lancashire where they call it the Hedge-berry-tree. The least wild Heart-Cherry-tree groweth neere Stock∣port, and in other places of Cheshire, where the County people call it the merry Tree. The Wild Cherry-Tree groweth in a wood by Bath. Most of them Flower in Aprill, bringing forth their fruit, some sooner and latter, in the months of May, June, and July.

The Temperature.

Cherries be cold and moist in the first degree.

The Vertues.

Cherries eaten before meat, loosen the Belly very gently, but many of them nourish but little, and are hurtfull unto moist and unhealthy Stomacks, especi∣ally the small Cherries which do often Breed Agues and other Maladies. The Red soure Cherries do likewise loosen the belly, and are more wholsesome and convenient for the Stomack, for they do partly comfort, and partly quench Thirst. The Black soure Cherries do strengthen the Stomack more then the rest, and being dryed, they stop the Laske. Some Authors speak much in the commendation of Cherries, and amongst the rest the Compilers of Schola Sal••r∣ni as may appear, by their following verses.

Cerasai si ••••medas, tibi confert grandia dona, Expurgant Stomachum, nucleus Lapide•• tibi tollit, Et de carne sua sanguis critque bonus.

That is to say, Cherries purge the Stomack, and the Kernells of the Cherry stones, eaten dry or made milk, breaketh the stone in the reins o•• bladder, and that which no fruit in a manner else doth, the substance or meat of Cherries ingendereth very

good blood, and comforteth and fatteth the body. Ruell••••s also ••aith, they breed good humors in the body; and another saith that they increase and comfort the Liver, which they may be said to do by S••gnature, and that those which are t••••t and sharp, close the mouth of the Stomack, and make the better and Speedier ci∣gestion. They are likewise allowed by the German Doctors to such as have Fea∣verish, hot and Thirsty diseases; in that they coole strengthen and stirr up appetite to meat. But let no body be to bold with them hereupon, lest they Surset, which may be easily done, and therefore in those Countites where they abound, they are eaten with bread and butter to prevent Surfetting. There is also made of Cherries a Liquor called Cherry wine which in the Summer is pleasant and health∣full and more proper for that season then hot wines. They are usefull to boyle in brothes and drinks and so they may be given without danger even to those that are sick, as those which are preserved may. The Gum of the Cherry-Tree dis∣solved in Wine and drunk, is good for the Gravell and the stone, the excoriation of the Throat, Lungs and Breast, the Cough, and hoarsenesse, as also to amend the colour and sharpen the Eyesight. The distilled water of Black Cherr••es having the stones bruised with them, is good to be powred into the mouthes of them that have the Falling-Sicknesse, as often as the Course of the fit doth trouble them, and is effectuall to provoke Urine, to break the stone expell the gravel and break VVind.