1853. 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



385 



THE BLACK TARTAREAN CHERRY. 



This was formerly called the Duuhle Heart, in 

 New England, and has also been known by sever- 

 al other names, such as Circassian Cherry, Black 

 Russian, Fr user's Black Heart, &c. The fruit is 

 very large ; heart-shaped ; skin glossy, purplish 

 black; flesh purple, half tender, juicy, with a rich 

 pleasant flavor ; stone small. Ripens, generally, 

 from June 23 to July 4. Mr. Robert B. Flush- 

 ing, L. I., a successful fruit grower, gave an ac- 

 count of this cherry in the American Agricultur- 

 ist in 1845. 



He says the variety is supposed to have origina- 

 ted in Spain, whence it was transmitted to Russia, 

 and was carried from the last named country to 

 England by Mr. John Fraser. In the account giv- 

 en of it in the "Pomona Londinensis," it is stated 

 to have been introduced into Britain from Circas- 

 sia, by Mr. John Ronalds, of Brentford, in 1794. 

 It is distinguished for its large, obtuse-heart- 

 shaped, shining purplish black fruit, with an un- 

 even surface, containing a rich, juicy, tender, pur- 

 plish ilesh, and differs from many other varieties 

 in hanging in clusters, which usually occurs early 

 in July, it readily commands in market, double 

 the price of the ordinary kinds. 



This tree is valuable also, not only for its fruit 

 alone, but from its vigorous growth, spreading 

 branches, and symmetrical form, it is well adapt- 

 ed for the purposes of ornament, and is well wor- 

 thy of general cultivation, Downing and Cole, 

 supposed it to be of Russian origin. 



HOW THE WATER BOILED AWAY 

 FROM THE POTATOES. 



BY J. B. NEWMAN, SI. D. 



I am residing for the summer with my family in 

 a retired and very romantic place in Connecticut, 

 seven miles from a railroad depot, and some thirty 

 in all from New York city. The distance from the 

 depot makes the weather an object of some consid- 

 eration in visiting the city. Yesterday was a fine 

 clear day, pleasant for either walking or riding, 

 there being sufficient breeze to moderate to comfort 

 the heat of the sun. Quite exhilarated by these 

 circumstances, I declared at dinner my determina- 

 tion to go early the next morning to New York, 

 as it was just the weather for travelling. 



"You cannot go to-morrow," said my aunt 

 gravely; "it is going to rain." 



"I see no signs of it," said my wife ; "wind like 

 this often continues for days together without any 

 storm." 



"I do not judge from the wind, but from a sign 

 that never fails, and that is, the boiling entirely 

 away of the water from the potatoes this morn- 

 ing." 



"Did you put in as much water as usual V 



"About the same. You laugh, I see ;_ but it 

 will rain to-morrow in spite of your laughing." 



Incredulity did make us merry, and each one 

 began to recount tales of country superstitions 

 generally. In the course of the conversation, some 

 one told a story of an English gentleman, well 

 known in the scientific world, who, while on a visit 

 to a friend, started one morning on a huntuig ex- 

 pedition, but missed his way, and inquired ot a lad 

 tending sheep to direct him. The boy showed the 

 desired path, but told him it would rain shortly, 

 and he had better return home as soon as possi- 



