156 SYSTEMATIC POMOLOGY 



(8) The Marascas. — A third division of the species is the 

 Marasca cherry from whicli is made maraschino, a distilled 

 li(}ueur much used in Eurojje as a drink, and in Europe" and 

 America in the manufacture of maraschino cherries. The 

 Marasca cherry is a native of the province of Dalmatia, in South- 

 ern Europe, where the trees p:row wild, and are now sparin^rly 

 cultivated. Botanists include this cherry in the species under dis- 

 cussion as P. Cerasus marasca. Marasca cherries differ from the 

 other cultivated forms chiefly in the ^eater vigor of the trees, 

 relatively finer serrations of the leaves, longer stipules, and 

 a more compact inflorescence. The fruits are much smaller than 

 in the common sour cherries, are deep red or almost black in 

 color, and have intensely red flesh and juice. The cherries are 

 very acid, with a bitter taste that gives flavor to the maraschino 

 made from them. 



Sweet cherries. 



The botany of the sweet cherry is variously interpreted by 

 botanists and pomologists; but if there are distinct species, as 

 there seem to be subspecies, they have been hopelessly mixed by 

 hybridization under cultivation. Botanists and pomologists now 

 agree in putting all cultivated sweet cherries in the type species, 

 the description of which follows. 



226. Pninus avium, the sv^eet cherry, described. — P. avium 

 is everywhere known in temperate climates as the sweet cherry. 

 Wild forms are variously called Mazzard, Bird, Wild, Crab, and 

 Gean cherries. 



2. Primus avium, Linn. (Plate XII) Tree reaching a height of 40 

 feet, upright-spreading, with a central leader; branches stocky, smooth. 

 Leaves resinous at opening; drooping, 4-6 inches long, 2-3 inches wide, 

 oblong-ovate, thin; margin coarsely and doubly serrate, glandular; petiole 

 1% inches long, slender, dull red, with 1-3 small, globose, reddish glands 

 on the stalk. Flowers white, l^A inches across; in clusters of 2 or 3 ; 

 pedicels 1 inch long, slender, glabrous. Fruit early; 1 inch in diameter, 

 cordate; suture a line; yellow, red or purplish-black; dots numerous, small, 

 russet; stem 1% inches long, adherent to the fruit; flesh yellow, red, or 

 dark purple with colorless or colored juice, sweet; stone semi-clinging, % 

 inch long, elliptical, flattened, blunt, with smooth surfaces. 



227. Habitat and history of the sweet cherry. — While now 

 thriving in many parts of Europe, Asia, and northern Africa, 



