172 THE CHERRIES OF NEW YORK 



Harrison's Heart. 33. Forsyth Treat. Fr. Trees 42. 1803. 34. Brookshaw Hort. Reposit. 1:69, 70, 

 PI. 34 fig. 2. 1823. 35. Mas £e Verger 8:145, 146, fig. 71. 1866-73. S^- Mathieu Nom. Pom. 362. 

 1889. 



Grosse Weisse Marmorkirsche. yj. Tmchsess-Heim Kirschensort. 316, 317, 682. 1819. 



Holland Bigarreau. 38. Downing Fr. Trees Am. 181 fig., 182. 1845. 



Bigarreau d' Esperen. 39. MortiUet Le Cerisier 2:119, 120 fig., 121. 1866. 40. Downing Fr. Trees 

 Am. 463. 1869. 41. Mas Le Verger 8:11, 12, fig. 4. 1866-73. 42- Leroy Diet. Pom. 5:198 fig., 199. 

 1877. 43. Mathieu Nom. Pom. 347. 1889. 44. Rev. Hort. 321, 322. 1912. 



Bigarreau Gros Coeuret. 45. Mortillet Le Cerisier 2:126-129, fig- 30. 1866. 46. Pom. France 7: 

 No. 23, PI. 23. 1871. 47. Leroy Diet. Pom. 5:208, 209 fig., 210. 1877. 



Royal Ann. 48. Cal. Bd. Hort. Rpt. 59, PI. 18. 1893-94. 49- ^"J- Pom. Soc. Rpt. 192. 1907. 

 50. Wash. Sta. Bui. 92:31, fig. 8. 1910. 



Napoleon is the leading firm-fleshed Sweet Cherry. It takes its place 

 by virtue of the large size, handsome appearance and high quality of the 

 fruit and the phenomenal productiveness of the trees. The accompanying 

 plate shows well the large size and beautiful color of the cherries — unsur- 

 passed in either character by any other Bigarreau and possibly by any 

 other cherry. The flavor is rich and sweet which, with the abundant 

 juice and firm, crackling flesh, makes this a most delicious and refreshing 

 cherry for dessert and, with the great size and attractive color, gives it 

 preference over all other Sweet Cherries for culinary purposes. In partic- 

 ular, cherry-canners find that Napoleon makes a finely finished product. 

 The cherries carry well and keep long and are, therefore, well thought of 

 by fruit-dealers. Besides being very productive, the trees come in bearing 

 early and are as vigorous, hardy and healthy as those of any other Sweet 

 Cherry. They may usually be known by their upright growth and large, 

 sturdy limbs. Napoleon, however, is not without its faults. The cherries 

 crack badly in wet weather and the variety can be grown with certainty 

 only in the dry summer climate of the Pacific Coast, where, especially in 

 Oregon and Washington, it reaches truly wonderful perfection. In the 

 East, too. Napoleon is more susceptible to brown-rot than several of its 

 rivals. Possibly the greatest fault, however, is in the tree, which is very 

 fastidious as to soils, thriving only in choice cherry land and in a congenial 

 cherry climate. Despite these rather serious faults, cherry-growers agree 

 that Napoleon takes first place among Sweet Cherries for both home and 

 commercial plantings. 



Napoleon is of unknown origin. Early in the Eighteenth Century 

 it was grown by the Germans, French, Dutch and English, proof that it 

 is a very old variety. Leroy believes that it was described by Merlet in 

 1667 but under another name. The great number of synonyms in several 

 languages gives some idea of the countries in which the variety has been 



