THE CLASSIFICATION OF CHERRIES 195 



groups, as will be seen from a study of the 

 various classifications reproduced herewith. 



One of the briefest and best arrangements 

 of cherries, according to their natural types, 

 is that made by O. Thomas. This has been 

 commonly overlooked because of its rather 

 obscure publication in a nursery catalog.* 

 The outline of this classification is translated 

 and described herewith : 



1. GUIGNES. Sweet cherries, with soft flesh. 

 Black Tartarian, Elton. 



2. BIGARREAUX. Sweet cherries, with firm flesh. 

 Black Hawk, Powhattan. 



3. MERISES. " Which are recognized by the flavor, 

 ordinarily honey-like, relieved by a slight bitterish 

 taste, and by the aspect of the tree, which resembles 

 the wild Merisier of the woods." Not an important 

 group, from the cultural standpoint, as may be judged 

 from the fact that not enough varieties are named in 

 it to enable one to identify the group with our Amer- 

 ican varieties. 



4. ENGLISH CHERRIES. Sour-sweet sorts, "distin- 

 guished by the form of the trees, which mostly have 

 branches strong and erect, not spreading so much as 

 the preceding, and lending themselves much better to 

 pruning in special forms." This description seems to 

 characterize the so-called Dukes, and the text goes on 



"Guide Pratique de 1'Amateur de Fruits," p. 5, 2d ed. 

 Paris and Nancy, 1895. 



