126 Commercial Gardening 



way sometimes realizes a higher price. In either case the cherries should 

 be very carefully hand-picked to remove any unripe or unsound fruit 

 which may have accidentally found its way into the gathering baskets. 

 The half-sieves, after being lined with packing paper, are filled with 

 cherries, and, according to recent regulations of the fruit markets, must 

 contain not less than 24 Ib. of fruit; if otherwise, the exact weight of 

 fruit should be marked on the label. Lastly, the baskets should always 

 contain a uniform sample of fruit. Packers, unless specially cautioned, 

 are very liable to put the best fruit upon the top of the baskets a prac- 

 tice that is easily discovered, and results in the grower obtaining a bad 

 name upon the market and subsequent loss. Every effort should be made 

 to obtain a good name upon the market, and when this is effected fruit 

 can often be sold by the salesman upon receipt of invoice by telegram 

 from the grower a matter of no little value when there is a glut of 

 fruit upon the market. 



Varieties. In considering cherries that are grown commercially, no 

 attempt has been made to mention all the varieties; a few of the better 

 known have been mentioned and their characteristics described. 



For the purposes of classification cherries can be divided into four 

 groups White Hearts, Black Hearts, Dukes or Guignes, and Acid or 

 Cooking cherries. 



The cherries in each class have been arranged in the order of ripening. 



Class I. White Hearts. 



Governor Wood. Early. A good cropping variety. A soft cherry, and 

 liable to Brown Rot. (See p. 86.) 



Frogmore Bigarreau. Early. A great cropping variety. It is very 

 soft, and cracks badly in wet weather. Makes a low price, but is useful in 

 years when the general crop is small. 



Elton Bigarreau. Second early. Fine large fruit. Crops badly, and 

 fails on moist soils. 



Amber Bigarreau. Medium. Large, firm, and good-quality cherry. 

 Crops well. Commands a good price. One of the best White Hearts for 

 orchards. 



Bigarreau Napoleon. Late. Very large and firm cherry. Crops 

 fairly well. Fruit sells well. It is a good orchard cherry, but the trees 

 often die back. 



Class II. Black Hearts. 



Rivers's Early. Very early. Large, handsome black cherry. Crops 

 well. Is the first good-quality English cherry to market, and sells well. 

 A good orchard cherry. 



KnigMs Early Black. Very early. Good flavour and crops well. 

 Soft flesh. 



Old Black Heart. Early. An old variety, which crops well. Liable 

 to crack and rot in wet seasons. 



