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THE GENESEE FARMER. 



NEW FRENCH CHERRIES. 



BY B. DESPORTES, OF ANDRE LE ROy's NURSERIES, ANGERS, FRANCE. 



Some years ago Mr. Le Roy formed, in his nurseries at Angers, a school or experimetal 

 plantation of fruit trees, which has enabled us to prove a 

 very large number of fruits formerly known, to us only by 

 name. The spring of this year was very favorable, and we 

 have had an abundant crop on all our fruit trees. We shall 

 profit by this in giving to the readers of the Genesee Farmer 

 a description of five varieties of cherries, new or very little 

 know n : 



BiGARREAU ESPERIN. (Fig. 1.) A 



superb cherry, received from Major 

 EsPERiN, of Belgium. It has been dis- 

 seminated only a few years, and we 

 have fruited it this season for the first 

 time. I am happy to be able to say 

 that it is every way worthy of all the 

 eulogies which accompanied its appear- 

 ance in the horticultural world. Fruit 

 very large, heart-shaped. Surface un- 

 even, one side flattened, the other round, 

 ^^°- ^- with a slight suture. Stalk short, stout, 



and planted in a deep cavity. Color blood red on the sunny side ; 

 yellow in the shade. Flesh white, slightly adhering to the stone, 



which is large, long, and channelled. Sea- Fig. 2. 



son of maturity, middle of July. It is necessary that it be well 



ripened before gathering, for then only 



does it possess all its excellent qualities. 



The leaves are large, lanceolate, deeply 



toothed, and have two glands on the 



petiole. The tree is large and vigorous. 



Shoots erect, long, and stout. 



Cerise de la besnakuiere. (Fig. 2.) 

 — Fruit medium size, roundish, flattened 

 at the stalk, and divided on one of its 

 sides by a light suture. Stalk one and 

 a half to two inches long, large, and 

 planted in a round, sh;illow cavity. 

 Color bright red throughout. Flesh 

 rosy white, parting freely from the stone; 

 tender, succulent, slightly acid. Stone 

 small, round, and smooth. Ripe begin- 

 FiG. .S. ning of July. It is moderately produc- 



tive. Leaves small and finely toothed. The tree resembles the 

 Mai/ Duke in its general appearance, grows vigorously, and 

 makes a fine pyramid. 



BiGARREAU Marcelin. (Fig. 3.) — This is certainly one of 

 the most beautiful of cherries. Very large, heart-shaped, flat- 

 tened on both sides, with a suture on one. Stalk short, stout, 

 curved, and planted in a shallow, irregular cavity. Color pale Fjq. 4, 



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