Descriptions of Select Varieties of Cheri'ies. 357 



of more than two thirds of them, the trees have arrived at a 

 bearing age. But the birds have become so numerous and 

 destructive, that we have found it difficult to procure a single 

 fruit of many of the kinds. This year we intended to net 

 over many of our trees, but unfortunately the severe winter 

 sadly damaged the flower buds, and on many of them not a 

 single fruit appeared ; such as have borne, with the exception 

 of the Morello class, have had such a scattering crop, that it 

 Avould hardly pay for the labor of netting them up. We are 

 consequently unable to add but a few drawings to our poi't- 

 folio, until the return of another season. 



We now continue our descriptions from our last volume, 

 (XVII, p. 73.) and have the pleasure of adding a drawing of 

 one of M. Esperin's new sorts, the Bigarreau d'Esperiu, a 

 large handsome and excellent fruit, and a fine acquisition to 

 every garden. Indeed it is the only cherry received from 

 foreign cultivators the last few years that is really worth pre- 

 serving. 



16. Bigarreau d'Esperin. 



This fine cherry, (fig. 24, J is one of the seedlings said to 

 have been produced by the late M. Esperin, of Belgium. It 



has now borne in our collection 

 for two years, but we were not 

 aware of its excellent merits till 

 this season. It is a cherry of the 

 largest size, of a clear transparent 

 skin, and of a superior quality, 

 partaking somewhat of the char- 

 acter of the May Duke : having 

 the brisk sub-acid flavor of that 

 old variety. The tree has a com- 

 pact, rather spreading habit, is of 

 moderate growth, and a good 

 bearer. 



Size, large, about one and an 

 eighth inches broad, and seven 

 Fig. 'i.x. Bigarreau d'Esperin Cherry, eighths of an iuch deep; Form, 



roundish heart-shaped, depressed at both ends, slightly flat- 



