THE CHERRIES OF NEW YORK 1 3 



always serrated and often sub-serrated. These serrations are best studied 

 at the middle of the sides of the leaves, those at the base and apex often 

 being crowded or wanting. 



The petiole may be used to good advantage in distinguishing both 

 species and varieties. Thus, in consequence of the great length and slender- 

 ness of the petiole of leaves of Sweet Cherries, the leaves are always more 

 or less drooping, while those of the Sour Cherry are usually erect by reason 

 of the petiole being short and strong. The color of the petiole is said 

 by some to be correlated with that of the fruit — a statement that needs 

 verification. The pubescence of the petiole must be noted. 



The position, size, shape and color of the glands on cherry leaves 

 must be noted as they are fairly constant guides. They are usually on 

 the petiole at the base of the leaf but are sometimes on the leaf itself. 

 The glands are commonly given as globular or reniform in shape but there 

 are often intermediate forms the shape of which is hard to classify. 



Stipules in this plant have considerable taxonomic value, having some 

 distinguishing marks not possessed by the leaves. Cherry leaves spring- 

 ing from dormant leaf-buds have very small stipules, sometimes so minute 

 as hardly to be seen, but on the current year's growth the stipules are 

 larger, being largest at the tip of the branchlet. There is considerable 

 difference in the size of these organs in varieties of the same species. 

 Stipules of the cherry are nearly always borne in pairs. The small stipules, 

 appearing with the first leaves, drop, at this Station, about the middle of 

 June while those accompanying the later leaves on the wood growth of 

 the current year remain until in July, there being a difference in varieties 

 as to how long they remain. All stipxoles are deeply toothed and bear 

 glands of varying color and shape on the serrations, the characters of 

 both serrations and glands offering some distinguishing marks for species 

 and varieties. 



The flowers of cherries are very characteristic, as a study of the color- 

 plates of blossoms will show, furnishing a wholly distinctive mark of 

 species and helping to distinguish varieties. The flowers are hermaphro- 

 dites and are borne in more or less dense, corymbose clusters. Individual 

 flowers in species and varieties vary in size, shape, color and odor. The 

 peduncles are long or short, as the case may be; the corolla furnishes 

 distinctions in size, shape and color of petals; the calyces are chiefly dis- 

 tinguished by their glands and the amount and character of the pubescence; 

 while stamens and pistils offer differences in size, color of their different 



