102 THE CHERRIES OF NEW YORK 



smallness of the cherries. It is an early cherry but the fruit hangs long. 

 The variety is said to root well from cuttings, which, if true, might make 

 it worth while trying as a stock. Bessarabian is a variant of English 

 Morello, the fruit of which sort greatly excels it wherever the trees can 

 be equally well grown. 



This variety was brought to America from Russia about 1883, by 

 Professor J. L. Budd of Ames, Iowa, who believed it to belong to a race 

 of cherries originally found in central Asia. 



Tree of medium size, upright, becoming somewhat spreading, compact, healthy, 

 unproductive, very hardy; branches somewhat drooping, long, slender; leaves abundant, 

 medium to small, oval, coarsely serrate, dark green, broad, flat; glands few, usually on 

 the stalk at the base of the leaf. 



Fruit matures medium early, remaining on the tree a long time in good condition; 

 medium in size, roundish-oblate to cordate, irregular, bright red becoming dark red; 

 stem long, varying from one and three-fourths to two inches in length, slender, curved; 

 skin tender; flesh light to dark red, with abundant colored juice, variable in firmness, 

 sprightly sub-acid becoming milder when fully ripe; fair in quality; stone variable in 

 size, roundish-oval, semi-clinging. 



BIGARREAU PfeLISSIER 



Prunus avium 



I. Soc. Nat. Hort. France Pom. 92 fig., 93. 1904. 2. Cat. Cong. Pom. France 30 fig. 1906. 

 P elissiers Knorpelkirsche. 3. Proskauer Obstsort. 57. 1907. 



This variety originated in France as a chance seedling about 1883 and 

 fruited first in 189 1. It was introduced a few years later by M. Auguste 

 Pelissier, a nurseryman at Chateau-Renard, Bouches-du-Rhone, France. 

 Although not yet well established even in France, this cherry is considered 

 promising for market, because of its firm flesh, handsome appearance, 

 high quality and good tree-characters. It is included among the major 

 varieties in The Cherries of New York that the attention of American 

 cherry-growers may be called to it. As yet it seems not to have been tried 

 in this country. The following description is compiled: 



Tree upright, vigorous, very productive; branches rather long, large, bearing large, 

 oval leaves; flowers large, semi-open; blooming season early. 



Fruit matures from early June to the last of June; large or very large, obtuse-cordate, 

 slightly depressed at the apex, with a shallow yet distinct suture; stem short, thick; skin 

 rather thick, firm, yellowish almost entirely overspread with vivid red which becomes 

 darker at maturity but often showing streaks of clear red; flesh fine-grained, firm, juicy, 

 red with streaks of white, sweet, aromatic; quality good to very good; stone of medium 

 size, oval, with a pronounced suture. 



