VARIETIES OF CHERRIES 329 



Tree of medium size, upright-spreading, open-topped, very productive. 

 Fruit early; % inch in diameter; cavity wide, rather abrupt; suture indis- 

 tinct, apex flattened, with a small depression at the center; color dark 

 reddish-black, obscurely mottled ; dots numerous, small, russet, obscure ; 

 stem slender, I14 inches long, adhering well to the fruit; skin thin, tender, 

 separating from the pulp; flesh dark red, with dark-colored juice, tender, 

 meaty, mild, sweet; of good quality; stone free, small, round-ovate, -with 

 smooth surfaces. 



509. Black Eagle. — In many respects Black Eagle is one of 

 the best varieties of its species. The trees are usually fruitful ; 

 ripen their fruit at a good time in the cherry season, and are 

 as hardy, healthy, and vigorous as those of any sweet cherry. It 

 is high quality of fruit that gives Black Eagle such merit that it 

 ought not to be forgotten. The fruit-stems of this variety are 

 characteristically long. Black Eagle was grown about 1806 by 

 Thomas Andrew Knight, Downton Castle, 



Wiltshire, England. 



Tree large, vigorous, upright -spreading, dense, 

 unproductive at first, but improving with age. Fruit 

 midseason; 1 inch in diameter, oblate, round-cordate, 

 compressed ; cavity regular, flaring ; suture a faint 

 groove; apex pointed or slightly depressed; color 

 dark red almost black; dots small, russet, medium 

 in number, obscure ; stem slender, 2 inches long ; 

 skin thin, tender; flesh dark red, wdth wine-colored 

 juice, meaty, tender, crisp, pleasantly flavored, mild 

 sweet; very good to best in quality; stone free ex- 

 cept along the ventral suture, small, ovate, slightly 

 flattened, blunt, Avith smooth surfaces. 



510. Early Purple Guigne (Fig. 157) is 

 a valuable cherry on account of the earli- 

 ness, attractiveness, and high quality of its 

 fruits. The trees bear well and regularly 

 after having become established in the or- 

 chard, but are poor growers in the nursery. 

 Early Purple Guigne is the Early Purple of 

 Ray in 1688. The variety was brought to Fig. 157. Early 

 America over a hundred years ago. ^^ ^ "^^ 



Tree large, vigorous, upright-spreading, open-topped, very productive. 

 Fruit very early; 1 inch in diameter, long-cordate, compressed; cavity 

 regular; suture a faint line; apex pointed; color purplish-black; dots num- 



