THE CHERRIES OF NEW YORK I97 



brought to America from France by Chancellor Livingston of Revolution- 

 ary fame. Thacher, in 1822, described the variety first under its present 

 name. The variety, as the synonymy shows, has been grown under many 

 names both in America and Europe. In 1845, according to Downing, 

 this cherry was common in the neighborhood of New York and Philadel- 

 phia but since Downing's time no one seems to have mentioned it. The 

 variety is usually spoken of in the United States as neither hardy nor 

 productive. The fruit books describe it as follows: 



Tree medium in size, spreading, very tender, unproductive; leaves narrow, waved. 



Fruit matures the last of June or early in July; large to very large, heart-shaped, 

 somewhat pointed; color yellowish-white with a bright red cheek, mottled; flesh very 

 firm, breaking, pleasantly flavored, sweet; very good in quality; stone separating readily 

 from the flesh. 



WHITE HEART 



Prunus avium 



I. Bradley Card. 2II. 1739. 2. Downing Fr. Trees Am. 173, 174 fig. 1845. 3. Elliott Fr. Book 

 216. 1854. 4. Horticulturist 15:327, PI. fig. i. i860. 5. Hogg Fruit Man. 315. 1884. 



Amber Heart. 6. Miller Gard. Kal. 154. 1734. 7. Jour. Roy Hort. Soc. 21:355. 1898. 



Fruhe Bernsteinkirsche. 8. Truchsess-Heim Kirschensorl. 304, 305. 1819. 9. Dochnahl Fiihr. 

 Obstktinde 3:39. 1858. 10. Mas Pom. Gen. 11:45, 46, fig- 23. 1882. 11. Mathieu Nom. Pom. 348. 

 1889. 



Kentish Bigarreau. 12. Bunyard-Thomas Fr. Card. 43. 1904. 



White Heart is mentioned in The Cherries of New York only because 

 of its reputation in Europe and the frequent references, therefore, that 

 American cherry-growers see to it in European publications. Bunyard and 

 Thomas, in the reference given, speak of it as one of the best and most 

 profitable cherries grown in the famous Kent cherry orchards. Early 

 American horticulturists describe it but it seems not to have been widely 

 grown in America and has probably long since passed from cultivation. 

 It failed, according to Elliott, because it was a " variable and uncertain 

 bearer " and while an early cherry " not early enough to compete with 

 many new varieties." 



White Heart seems to have been mentioned first by Miller in 1734. 

 A little later it is found to be described in both Germany and France, 

 indicating that it must have been known and widely distributed before 

 the time given. It seems to have been brought to America before the 

 War of the Revolution and to have been grown in this country imder the 

 several different names which are given in the list of synonyms. The 

 following description is compiled: 



