ri 4 THE FRUIT GROWER'S GUIDE. 



and kernels of the fruits ; then distilled, and sweetened with sugar. The gum of the 

 cherry was long considered somewhat analogous to gum arabic ; but it has been ascer- 

 tained that, while the principle of gum arabic is arabin, that of cherry gum is cerasin, 

 and unlike arabin, is not soluble in cold water. The shade trees of Germany are 

 chiefly cherry-trees. . . . The wood of the wild cherry is firm, strong, close-grained, 

 and of a reddish colour. It is soft, easily worked, and takes a fine polish ; is much 

 sought after by cabinet-makers, more particularly in France, where mahogany is much 

 less common than in Britain." Hogg's Vegetable Kingdom. 



VARIETIES. 



" All the varieties of cultivated cherries consist of eight races," states the same 

 author, in his Fruit Manual, to which those desiring further information, as regards 

 synopsis and scientific description, are referred ; but for cultural purposes cherries are 

 generally, and by the same eminent authority, divided into two classes, namely : " 1. 

 Geans : branches rigid and spreading, forming round-headed trees ; leaves long, waved 

 on the margin, thin and flaccid, and feebly supported on the footstalks ; flowers large, 

 and opening loosely, with thin, flimsy, obovate or roundish -ovate petals ; fruit heart- 

 shaped, or nearly so ; juice sweet. 2. Griottes : branches either upright, spreading, 

 or more or less long, slender, and drooping ; leaves flat, dark green, glabrous under- 

 neath, and borne stiffly on the leaf-stalks ; large and broad in Dukes, and small and 

 narrow in Morellos ; flowers in pedunculate umbels, cup-shaped, with firm, stiff, and 

 crumpled orbicular petals ; fruit round or oblate, sometimes, as in the Morello, inclining 

 to heart-shaped; juice sub-acid or acid." 



DESCRIPTIVE SELECTION OF CHERRIES. 



GEANS. Fruit obtuse, heart-shaped ; flesh tender and melting. Black Geans. Flesh dark ; juice coloured. 



BLACK EAGLE. Fruit medium to large, . borne in 

 clusters of two and three, in large bunches on the 

 spurs ; roundish heart-shaped ; skin deep purple, 

 black when highly ripened ; flesh rich, sweet, 

 delicious ; ripe beginning of July ; tree very free 

 sturdy grower, hardy, and great bearer ; fine for 

 garden, wall, and orchard. 



EARLY PCRPLE GEAN. Fruit large, obtuse, heart- 

 shaped ; skin shining dark purple, almost black ; 

 llesh very juicy, sweet, and rich, pleasant flavour ; 

 ripe early in June ; tree vigorous, but tender, 

 excellent bearer ; requires a south wall ; suc- 



ceeds as a bush in warm situations only ; one ot 

 the earliest good cherries, but too tender for 

 orchards. 



EARLY RIVERS. Fruit large, nearly 1 inch in dia- 

 meter, heart-shaped, borne in clusters of ten or 

 twelve, two to four being in one peduncle ; skin 

 shining deep black ; flesh very juicy, sweet, and 

 richly flavoured ; ripe middle to end of June ; 

 tree vigorous, healthy, hardy, and abundant 

 bearer ; the finest early cherry, very handsome ; 

 excellent for forcing ; walls, garden, and orchard ; 

 promises to be a profitable variety for market. 



