31 A Y B I G A R R E A U CHERRY. 



their system of arrangement has generally been followed ; but, with the 

 great increase of new kinds from seed, the distinctions, once so well 

 defined, have become less and less apparent, until they have, in some 

 instances, been almost entirely merged into one another. Thus, in the 

 family of Bigarreautiers, which included only the hard-fieslied cherries, 

 the varieties have been so altered, by cross-fertilization, that the tender- 

 est of this class, and the firmest of the heart cherries, (Guigniers,) do 

 not admit of any distinction in this respect. 



Aware, after much experience, of the vagueness of the divisions 

 adopted by French writers, Mr. R. Thompson, in a valuable article in 

 the Horticultural Transactions, (vol. v. p. 248,) describing more than fifty 

 varieties, prepared a classification of his own, based upon the natural 

 habits of the trees, and not upon the mere consistence of the flesh. 

 His method of arrangement consists of two classes, as follows : — 



Class 1. Those with large, pendent leaves, wavy on the margin. 



Class 2. Those with smaller leaves, with the margin plane. 



To the first class, are referred all the Bigarreau and Heart cherries ; 

 and, to the second, the aqueous varieties, as the Dukes, Morellos, &c. 



Mr. Thompson's arrangement appears far the best adapted to the 

 cherry in its present improved state, and we shall embrace the opportu- 

 nity of referring to it again. 



We complete our description of the May Bigarreau as follows : — 



Tree. — ^Vigorous, partially spreading, regular in form, with a rather 

 compact habit. 



Wood. — Moderately strong, short-jointed, rich shining brown, nearly 

 covered with a silvery gray epidermis ; buds large, ovate. 



Leaves. — Medium size, ovate oblong, sHghtly waved on the margin, 

 broadest about the middle, obtuse at the base, and shortly tapering to 

 the point ; unequally, coarsely and deeply serrated, with prominent veins 

 beneath ; petioles rather short, about three quarters of an inch long, 

 moderately stout, with two large reniform glands near the base of the leaf. 



Flowers. — Medium size, opening earlier than any other variety ; pe- 

 tals thin and wavy ; style and stamens about equal length. 



Fruit. — Rather small, about three quarters of an inch in diameter, 

 oval heart-shaped, and somewhat angular in its outline : Skin, rich 

 deep red; when fully mature becoming of a shining dark purplish color : 

 Stem, medium length, about one and a half inches long, moderately 

 stout, and inserted in a narrow, rather shallow, and irregular cavity : 

 Flesh, purplish red, soft and tender : Juice, abundant, with a sweet, 

 rich flavor : Stone, medium size, roundish ovate. 



Ripe the last of May and early part of June. 



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