404 



BOTANY Ol' CROP PLANTS 



or with the leaves in small umbels from lateral buds; the 

 pedicels are about 24 centimeters long; and the stamens are 

 about 30 in number. The fruit is globular, always red, with 



soft flesh and skin that usually separates 



readily from pulp. 



Geographical.^ — The species is a native of 

 Europe and an occasional escape from cultiva- 

 tion in this country. 



Groups of Sour Cherries. — The sour 

 cherries include two general groups: 



1 . Amarelles. — These cherries are pale 

 red in color, have colorless juice, and are 

 generally somewhat flattened on- the 

 ends. They have less acid than dark- 

 colored cherries. Montmorency and 

 Early Richmond are the most common 

 Amarelles. 



2. Morellos or Griottes. — These are 

 cherries with dark red fruit and dark 

 juice, and they vary from spherical to 

 heart-shape. Common varieties are 

 Ostheim, Olivet, Louis PhiUppe, and 

 the Morello. 



Other Species of Cherries. — The species of cher- 

 ries native to America are of little horticultural 

 importance. Chief of these are P. pennsyhanica, 

 P. emarginata, P. pumila, P. cuneata, and P. 

 besseyi. P. pennsyhanica is sometimes used as a 

 stock on which to bud the sour cherry. 



Prunus mahaleb, a native of Europe and Asia, is very extensively used in 

 this country as a stock for all sweet and sour cherries. It is an excellent 

 dwarfing stock. 



Uses. — Both sour and sweet cherries are used as a dessert 

 fruit, and in the making of pies. The bulk of the cherries 



Fig. 168. — Twig of 

 sour cherry (Prunus 

 cerasus). (After Pad- 

 dock and Whipple.) 



