334 SYSTEMATIC POMOLOaY 



with dark-colored juice, lender and iiieltin^^ somewhat astringent; sour; 

 of fair quality; stone free, round oval, plump, Idunt pointed; surfaces 

 smooth. 



DIVISION C. MILDLY ACID CHERRIES (DUKES) 



Section IV. Red-flecked Cherries 



Group 9. Small Dukes 



517. May Duke [Fi^. 164) is one of the oldest and most 

 popular chei-ries ; the fruit is finely flavored, especially when 

 prepared for the table, and even before ripe ; 

 it is also delicious to eat out of hand if the 

 cherries are dead ripe; and it may be left to 

 hang for a month or six weeks, becoming daily 

 sweeter and more aromatic. Despite tender 

 flesh, the fruits ship w^ell, although grown only 

 for local markets, since the long period of 

 ripening makes necessary several pickings. 

 The trees are as fruitful as any ; are hardy, 

 vigorous, and healthy ; and few cherries thrive 

 in greater variations of soil and climate. The 

 fruit is well distributed in dense clusters on 

 trees characteristically upright and vasiform, 

 which bear a dense canopy of dark-green luxu- 

 riant foliage. May Duke is supposed to have 

 originated in a district in France known as 

 ]\Iedoc, and the name to have been derived 

 by the English from the place. 



Tree large, upright, vasiform, very productive. Fruit early; % inch 

 in diameter, cordate to conical, compressed; cavity abrupt, regular; suture 

 indistinct; apex rounded with a small depression at the center; color dark 

 red; dots numerous, russet, obscure; stem slender, l^/^ inches long, adhering 

 strongly to the fruit; skin thin, tender, separating from the pulp; flesh 

 dark red with pinkish juice, tender and melting, sprightly, subacid, pleas- 

 antly flavored ; of very good quality ; stone nearly free, small, round, with 

 smooth surfaces. 



518. Empress Eugenie (Fig. 165). — This old French cherry 

 does not thrive in the new world as well as could be washed. 



Fig 



May 



