186 



CHERRIES. 



45. DOWNING'S RED CHEEK. 



A very handsome and excel- 

 lent seedling cherry, just raised 

 at this establishment, and which 

 promises to be a charming addi- 

 tion to the dessert. It somewhat 

 resembles the Bigarreau, but is 

 more tender and sweet, and 

 rather more highly coloured. 



Fruit rather large, regularly 

 obtuse heart-shaped, with a pretty 

 distinct suture. Skin thin, 

 (slightly pellucid when fully 

 ripe,) white, with a rich dark 

 crimson cheek (somewhat mot- 

 tled,) covering more than half the 

 fruit. Stalk an inch and a half 

 long, set in an even hollow of 

 moderate depth. Flesh yellow- 

 ish, half tender, and of a very Fig. 76. Downing'* Red Cheek. 

 delicately sweet and luscious flavour. Leaves coarsely serra- 

 ted, with dark footstalks. Ripens a few days before the Bigar- 

 reau, or about the 14th of June. 



46. ELTON. Thomp. Lind. P. Mag. 



The Elton, a seedling raised in 1806, 

 by the late President of the London Hor- 

 ticultural Society, is certainly one of the 

 first of cherries in all respects. Its large 

 size, early maturity, beautiful appear- 

 ance, luscious flavour, and productiveness, 

 render it universally esteemed. It is a 

 cross-bred variety raised from the Bigar- 

 reau or Graffion with the White Heart for 

 its male parent. The trees grow very 

 vigorously, and are readily known, when 

 in foliage, by the unusually dark red co- 

 lour of the footstalks of the leaves. 



Fruit large, rather pointed, heart- 

 shaped. Skin thin, shining pale yellow 

 on the shaded side, but with a cheek next 

 the sun delicately mottled and streaked 

 with bright red. Stalk long and slender. 

 Flesh somewhat firm at first, but becom- 

 ing nearly tender, juicy, with a very rich 

 and luscious flavour, not surpassed by any 

 large cherry known. Ripens about the 

 middle of June, or directly after the May- 

 duke. 



Fig. 77. Elton. 



