72 THE GARDENER. [Feb. 



Bigarreaus, with red or light-coloured mottled skin and hard crackling 

 flesh. The 5th he terms Black Dukes, and have dark skin and flesh 

 and deeply-coloured juice. The Gth embraces all those nearly allied 

 to the Black Dukes, but with j3ale red skin, translucent skin and flesh, 

 and uncoloured juice ; these he calls lied Dukes. The 7th includes 

 all those the trees of which have long, slender, and pendant shoots, 

 and dark-coloured fruit with acid-coloured juice, and are termed Black 

 Morellos. The 8th he designates Red Morellos ; they include all those 

 pale red acid varieties of which the Kentish Cherry is the type. 



As in all other kinds of fruits, new varieties can only be obtained 

 from seed. The same care in the selection of parents ought to 

 be exercised with the Cherry as in the case of other fruits. Only 

 by using such means can success be hoped for. No doubt we have 

 many varieties, which, so far as flavour is concerned, are sufficient 

 to meet the requirements of most palates. The principal object to 

 be aimed at in the production of new varieties is to prolong the 

 season of the sweet Cherries. The beginning or middle of Septem- 

 ber is the latest possible time we can have them now ; but with 

 care in selecting parents, I hope this period may eventually be 

 extended at least another month. Next in importance is an in- 

 creased size of the fruit. This may not be of such easy accom- 

 plishment, yet I consider it to be an aim worthy the attempt. He 

 who accomplishes one or both of these objects, will have a claim 

 to the gratitude of all horticulturists. Whether the raising of stocks 

 or of new varieties be the aim, the stones of the Cherry may be 

 sown when the fruit is used; or, to quote Mr Thompson, "They 

 may be stratified till early in spring, when those that are begin- 

 ning to germinate should be planted in drills and covered over to 

 the depth of 1J inches." They are generally sown in the summer 

 in drills an inch deep, on light sandy soil, into which the stones 

 may be deposited 2 or 3 inches apart. In the following spring 

 they will germinate and make a small shoot ; while the second sea- 

 son they will make shoots varying from 1 to 2 or 3 feet in length, 

 according to the varieties, and the health and vigour of the plants. 

 The small black or red wild Cherry is recommended by some as 

 being the best to use for stocks, while the Duke and Morello Cher- 

 ries are also favourably spoken of by others. At the end of the 

 second year's growth the seedlings should be taken from the seed- 

 beds, and planted in nursery-lines 2 feet apart, and 1 foot between 

 the plants in the line. After making another year's growth the 

 best of them will be ready for budding or grafting, as the case may 

 be. If they are to be worked as standards at the height of 4 to 

 6 feet from the ground, it will be necessary to grow them on for 



