EARLY PURPLE GUIGNE CHERRY. 



It is a little singular that the origin of two of the earliest cherries 

 we have should be involved in so much obscurity, and quite as remark- 

 able that both should have been received from the nursery of the 

 Messrs. Baumann, of Bollwiller. These two are the Early Purple 

 Guigne and the May Bigarreau. A reference to our account of the 

 latter, which we have already figured, (pi. 26,) will show that it came 

 from Messrs. Baumann, without name, under nearly the same circum- 

 stances as the Early Purple Guigne, and it yet appears to be almost or 

 quite unknown to English cultivators. 



When our description of the May Bigarreau was written, we had not 

 fruited the Early Purple Guigne, and we made the remark, that unless 

 the latter proved to be " remarkably early, the May Bigarreau may be 

 safely set down as, at least, a fortnight earlier than any other variety." 

 The experience, however, of two years has given us an opportunity to 

 judge fully of the merits of this cherry, and we can now state that it is 

 even earlier than the May Bigarreau, and also a larger, more beautiful, 

 and richer fruit. The trees are moderately vigorous, forming a some- 

 what loose and spreading head, and good bearers. No collection should 

 be without this fine early cherry. 



Tree. — Moderately vigorous, upright; branches, somewhat irregular 

 and spreading. 



Wood. — Moderately strong, short-jointed, dark brown, partially cov- 

 ered with a silvery epidermis ; old wood, sprinkled with large horizontal 

 whitish specks ; buds, rather large, oblong-ovate, diverging, with promi- 

 nent shoulders. 



Leaves. — Medium size, oblong, drooping, wavy on the margin, often 

 incurved, irregularly and coarsely serrated ; veins, small beneath ; peti- 

 oles long, nearly two inches in length, slender, dark red, with large 

 reniform glands, generally two, but occasionally more. 



Flowers. — Large, opening early; petals, oblong oval; stamens, longer 

 than the style. 



Fruit. — Medium size, about three quarters of an inch long, and 

 seven eighths of an inch in diameter, roundish heart-shaped, broad at 

 the base, narrowing to the apex, somewhat compressed, with an indis- 

 tinct suture, and a large indented point : Skin, dark red, becoming of a 

 rich, glossy, purplish black when fully ripe : Stem, very long, about two 

 inches in length, slender, and moderately inserted in a rather shallow 

 cavity : Flesh, deep purplish red, tender, juicy, rich, sweet and excellent: 

 Stone, medium size, roundish. 



Ripe the last of May and the beginning of June. 



[94] 



