DESCRIPTIONS OF NEW FRUITS. 



DESCRIPTIONS OF NEW OR RARE FRUITS. 



I. The Great Bigarreau, This, unquestionably the largest and most beautiful of 

 all cherries, appears to be scarcely at all known to pomologists. A foreign variety, perhaps 

 more distinct than any other large cherry in its foliage, growth, and in the size, excellence, 

 and color of its fruit,— which is equal to the Black Tartarian in flavor, and surpasses 

 it in beauty and productiveness, certainly should not be unknown to American pomolo- 

 gists. And yet we cannot identify it with anything known or described in the English, 

 French or American books on fruits. 



The only tree known to us of the Great Bi- 

 garreau, (a name we have adopted temporarily, 

 until the real name is discovered,) is one of pret- 

 ty large size, upon the premises of Mr. Lindlet 

 M. Ferris, nurseryman, Coldenhara, Orange 

 county, N. Y. jNIr. Ferris first astonished us by 

 bringing branches of this tree in full, laden with 

 superb fruit, 2 years ago — supposing we should 

 be able to identify it with some foreign variety, 

 we made a drawing and description of it at the 

 time, and waited to make further research on 

 the subject. So far, our labor for two seasons 

 to identify it with any other sort, has been in 

 vain, and we nowpublisli the description, to in- 

 troduce what we think the most magnificent of 

 cherries, to the notice of our fruit growers, and 

 partly with the hope that some of our pomolo- 

 gical readers in France may be able to recognise 

 and give us its true name.* 



The Colden estate, Avhich Mr. Ferris now 

 holds, has some valuable sorts of foreign fruits upon it ; and among a number of trees im- 

 ported from France about 20 years ago, were this and several other cherries — including 

 the Belle de Choisy. No labels or invoices having been left, all record of the sorts was 

 lost. But the trees have grown finely, and this one in particular has formed a large and 

 luxuriant head, and for several years has been annually loaded with large crops of fruit. 



As a J'oung tree, the Great Bigarreau is remarkable for its very upright growth, with 

 very few side branches. The foliage is also very distinct from that of either the Tai-tarian 

 or the light colored Bigarreaus, by being unusually long as well as large — much larger 

 indeed, than the leaf of any other cherry known to us. 



The tree is usually a great bearer, producing heavier crops than the Tartarian, and noth- 

 ing can well be more beautiful than its branches laden with clusters of very large cherries, 

 much ruddier and lighter in color than the fruit of the Black Tartarian — something in 

 color between red and black. 



The following is its pomological character. Fruit very large — considerably larger than 

 the Black Tartarian, Avhich it most nearly resembles in flavor, texture of the flesh and 

 general appearance, though it differs in color, size and form — the form being an oblong 



believe trees of the Great Bigarreau have been propagated for sale in the nurseries of Mr. Ferris, at 

 our neighbors, Mr. C. Downing, and Messrs. Saul & Co., of Newburgh. 



The Great Bigarreau. 



