NeiD Seedling Cherry. 



393 



pleased to hear from you whether it passes the ordeal of your 

 discriminating committee. — Truly yours^ Henry Vail, Ida 

 Farm, Troy, N. Y., August 9, 1849. 



To Samuel Walker, Esq , 



President Mass. Hort, 



Soc.j &c. 



The fruit committee of the Massachusetts Horticultural 

 Society reported that the "cherries were somewhat decayed, 

 and they could not so well judge of their quahty, but, from 

 their being so late, and said to be an abundant bearer, the 

 cherry promises to be a valuable acquisition." 



Our description is as follows : — 



Fruit, large, fully one inch in diameter, and about the 

 same in length: Form, roundish, heart- 

 shaped, slightly flattened at the base: 

 Skin, deep shining red : Stem, very 

 long, about two inches in length, rather 

 stout, and inserted in a medium sized 

 shallow cavity : Flesh, pale amber, 

 tender, and melting : Juice, abundant, 

 subacid, rich, and good : Stone, small, 

 ovate. Ripe in the early part of Au- 

 gust. 



Mr. Downing, in his letter to Mr. 

 Vail, speaks of the Late Duke as such 

 a "poor bearer that it is very little cul- 

 tivated." Does he here have reference 

 to the ti'ue Late Duke, or to a spurious 

 one which we had from the Highland 

 Horticultural nurseries six or seven 

 years ago, and which appears to be 

 some sort of a Morello? The true Late Duke, as figured in 

 our Fruits of America, and described in our Magazine, (vol. 

 xiii. p. 397,) is a great and constant bearer, and one of the 

 very finest late cherries in our collection. We have had it in 

 bearing three or four years, and the Pomological Magazine 

 particularly recommends it on account of its "appearance, 

 size, flavor, and productiveness." — Ed. 



VOL. XV. NO, IX. 50 



VaiVs Seedling 

 Cherry. 



