CHERRIES. 153 



Ripe a week or ten days earlier than the May Duke. 

 On a south aspect, it will be ripe by the middle of June. 



This very valuable and early cherry was raised by 

 Mr. Knight, about 1810, from a seed of the Bigarreau, 

 which had been impregnated by the May Duke. It is 

 sufficiently hardy to bear on an open standard ; but it 

 would be more desirable to train it against a south or 

 south-east wall, as its fruit would then be a great acqui- 

 sition to the dessert, along with our early scarlet straw- 

 berries. 



25. LUKE WARD. Miller, No. 11. Hitt, p. 299. ; 

 Switzer, 140. 



Fruit heart-shaped, somewhat rounder, and not 

 quite so large as a Black Heart ; of a dark brown, or 

 nearly black colour, and possessing a most excellent 

 juice. 



Ripe the beginning of August. 



This is an old inhabitant of our orchards, although 

 but little known, or cultivated, at present. 



Parkinson, in 1629, calls it Luke Wards : Raye in 

 1688, Luke Ward's, and Rea, in 1702, appears to be 

 the first who has given it the name of Lukeward. It 

 is highly spoken of by the old gardeners, and therefore 

 ought to be brought into notice and cultivated. 



26. SMALL BLACK. 



Black Mazzard. Hort. Soc. Cat. No. 4. 



Common Black of Buckinghamshire. Ib. No. 5. 



Merry Cherry of Cheshire. Ib. No. 2. 



Small Wild Black. Ib. No. 7. 



Black Polstead, in some places. 



Merisier a petit fruit. Duhamel, Vol. i. p. 156. 



Fruit small, heart-shaped, flattened a little on both 

 sides, and without suture. Stalk one inch and three 

 quarters long, very slender, inserted in a small round 

 cavity ; at its apex it has a small, round, deepish dimple. 

 &mthin,ofajet black colour. Flesh succulent, very deep 



