146 THE FLORIST. 



the Adianturns, Polypods, Chelianthes, Pteris, Darea, Gymnograms, 

 Doodias, and Nephrodiums, &c. 



Of Lycopods there is a great number of so-called species, from 

 among which 1 should select, L. caesium, L. c. arboreum, L. denti- 

 culatum, L. densum, circinale, umbrosum, stoloniferum, and one or 

 two others. 



B. S. Williams, 

 Gardener to C. B. "Warner, Esq., Hoddesdon, Herts. 



DESCRIPTIVE LIST OF FRUITS. 



THE CHERRY. 



This delicate and favourite fruit has long been known and cultivated 

 in Europe. It appears to have been brought to Italy from Cerasus 

 (a town in Pontus in Asia) by General Lucullus, about the year 

 73 A.c, and from thence introduced into Britain. In the reign of 

 Henry VIII. we read of" Cherry- gardens in Kent, and of Cherries 

 being hawked in London much the same as they are at the present 

 day ; but at that period very few varieties of any particular merit were 

 in existence. In 1573, Tusser mentions "red and black Cherries," 

 and about twenty sorts are noticed by Ray and Miller ; but since 

 their time a number of good varieties has been brought from the 

 Continent, and some excellent sorts raised in this country, among 

 which are some of our best Cherries. The catalogues now contain 

 a great many varieties ; that of the Horticultural Society enumerates 

 upwards of eighty, independent of those discarded as worthless ; but 

 not more than half that number even are really worthy of cultivation; 

 therefore, in my list, I shall only notice a few of the very best and 

 most useful kinds, either for the dessert or other purposes. 



French authors divide the Cherry into five classes, and Mr. 

 Thompson has them arranged in two ; but I do not consider such 

 divisions of any importance in these papers ; therefore I shall place 

 them in the order in which they succeed each other in ripening. 



Many of the kinds are known under numerous local names ; and 

 I give them according to the Horticultural Society's catalogue, in 

 the hope of helping to clear up the confusion existing in this class 

 of fruit. 



1. Early Purple Guigne. 



Synonym : Early Purple Griotte. 



Fruit rather above the middle size, heart-shaped, and uneven in 

 outline. Stalk long and slender, inserted in a slight depression. 

 Skin dark red and glossy, changing to a deep purple when fully ma- 

 tured. Flesh purple, juicy, rich, free from acidity, and very tender. 

 Ripe from the beginning to the middle of June. 



The tree is of slender habit and moderate growth, having long 

 waved leaves and dark brown shoots. Being rather tender, it requires 

 a favourable situation and suitable soil, otherwise it is very subject 



