. THE CHERRIES OF NEW YORK 129 



botanists, is a variety of this dwarf species and may be the identical cherry 

 that Pliny described. Following Pliny it was mentioned by Estienne, a 

 Frenchman, in 1540, by Knoop, the Dutch pomologist, in 1 771, by Parkin- 

 son, the English herbahst, in 1629, and, as the references show, by most 

 pomologists since. The names May and Early May have been applied to 

 several varieties, and especially in the West to the Early Richmond but 

 all are distinct and ought not to be confused with this, the true variety. 



Tree verj- small, rather weak; branches numerous, slender, somewhat curved, flexible, 

 branchlets slender, pendant; leaves abimdant, very small, obovate or oblong, acuminate; 

 margin irregularly and deeply serrate; petiole short, slender, without glands; blooming 

 season very early; flowers small; petals oval. 



Fruit matures very early, usually attached in pairs; small, roundish, slightly flattened; 

 suture indistinct; color bright red becoming dark red at full maturity; stem one inch long, 

 slender, set in a small, regular cavity; skin thin; flesh yellowish-white, sometimes tinged 

 red under the skin, tender, juicy, brisk but pleasant subacid; quality fair; stone very small, 



roundish. 



EARLY MORELLO 



Prunus cerasus 



I. Del. Sla. An. Rpt. 12:118. 1900. 2. Budd-Hansen Am. Hort. Man. 2:275. 1903. 



Orel No. 23. 3. Mich. Hort. Soc. Rpt. 327. 1888. 4. la. Sla. Bui. 73:68, 77 fig. 17. 1903. 



This, which we think is the true Early Morello, is worthy an extended 

 description in The Cherries of New York chiefly because there are several 

 cherries of this name. The confusion results in much vexation to cherry- 

 growers in the West where, only, these cherries have been planted. The 

 full description should make clear at least the character of the variety 

 which is being grown at this Station as Early Morello. About all that 

 can be said of the variety as it grows here is that the trees are hardy, healthy, 

 vigorous, fruitful and regular in bearing. The cherries show the variety to 

 be of the Amarelle group but are such as to make it far inferior to Mont- 

 morency and other well-known Amarelles. The name is misleading, as 

 the variety has little in common, in tree or fruit, with the true Morellos. 



The cherry described here as Early Morello was introduced by 

 Professor J. L. Budd from Orel, Russia, as Orel No. 23. It has proved 

 very productive and hardy throughout the West and resembles Early 

 Richmond, though smaller, a trifle darker, less acid and a week later. A 

 dark-fleshed variety from Erfurt, Prussia, was sent out from Rosedale, 

 Kansas, where it is known as Early Morello. This, and one by D. U. 

 Reed, Blue Springs, Nebraska, appear to be very similar to the Northwest, 

 or Wier No. 29. 

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