188 THE CHERRY. 



ing, honey and the leaves and kernels of the fruit are mixed. The 

 gum of the cherry is nearly identical with gum-arabic, and there 

 are some marvelous stories told of its nutritive properties." 



Gathering the Fruit. The flavor and character of the cherry is 

 best obtained when gathered early in the morning ; but, if intended 

 for distant market, they should always be gathered with the stem 

 attached, and when dry. 



Classification. In order the more readily to distinguish varieties 

 of the cherry, authors have entered into classification ; but as those 

 heretofore made, have seemed rather to perpetuate error than induce 

 correctness, we have ventured upon a partially new order. Lind- 

 ley, in his Guide to the Orchard, makes two divisions ; one embrac- 

 ing varieties, the fruit of which is round, acid or sub-acid ; the other, 

 sweet, and heart-shaped. Downing, in his Fruits and Fruit Trees, 

 makes four divisions or classes, viz : Heart-shaped, Bigarreaus, 

 Dukes, and Morellos; and, in a measure, all other writers have 

 adopted these classifications. The two last terms of Mr. Downing, 

 Dukes and Morellos, we shall continue, as they are not inappli- 

 cable, and the trees are distinct in growth. But the word Bigarreau, 

 being derived from Bigarreb, originally meaning, and intended to 

 convey the idea of a parti-colored, or yellow and red fruit, and not 

 meaning, (as it is generally used and understood by pomologists) 

 firm-fleshed, we can see no just cause for continuing in use. Again ; 

 there are varieties which, although round in form, are yet sweet, and 

 partially tender-fleshed, and however erroneous, would have (if the 

 old classification were pursued) to come under the head of Heart- 

 shaped. There are, also, varieties where the characters, both of tree 

 and fruit, of those determined by the two distinctions Heart and 

 Bigarreau are so closely commingled, as to often perplex the ama- 

 teur, and thus increase rather than lessen his troubles. We shall, 

 therefore, designate in our text descriptive of each variety, the classes 

 heretefore known as Hearts and Bigarreaus, being rapid growing, 

 lofty and spreading trees, as Sweet, of which the old Black Heart 

 may be taken as the type. The Dukes are mainly distinguished by 

 the trees having narrower leaves than those of the Sweet Cherry, 

 being upright in growth while young, but forming a low, spreading 

 head, with wood less strong, and somewhat darker colored than the 

 Sweet Cherries. Fruit, generally round, of one color, and when fully 

 ripe, rich sub-acid. 



The Morellos are less upright in growth thnn the Dukes. 

 Branches, small, slender, drooping ; foliage, narrow, dark green; fruit, 

 acid. 



Engravings. These have been made from medium sized speci- 

 mens, taken direct from the tree, and placed in the engraver's 



