OHEEKIES. 189 



that class : hence Mr. Downing dropped the name of Bigarreau, and 

 substituted that which I have adopted. 



I received it in 1846 from Messrs. Baumann, of Bolwyller, near Mulhansen, in 

 Alsace. 



BEDFORD PROLIFIC {Sheppard's Bedford Prolific).— Very much 

 resembles Black Tartarian, vrith which I made it synonymous in the 

 last edition of this work ; but it is inferior in quality to it. The tree 

 is a free grower, a better bearer, and more hardy than Black Tartarian. 



Belcher's Black. See Corone, 



BELLE AGATHE {Autumn Bigarreau). — Fruit, small, produced 

 in clusters ; heart-shaped, with a shallow but well defined suture on 

 one side of it. Skin, dark crimson, with minute yellow mottles over 

 it. Stalk, an inch and a half to an inch and three-quarters long. 

 Flesh, yellowish, firm, sweet, and very nicely flavoured. Juice, pale. 



This is a smaR Bigarreau, which hangs on the tree as late as the 

 first week in October ; and neither birds nor wasps touch it. 



Belle Audjgeoise. See Beine Hortense. 



Belle de Bavay. See Reine Hortense. 



Belle de Chatenay, See Belle de Magnijiqu^. 



BELLE DE CHOISY {Griottier de Choisy ; Griottier de Palembre ; 

 Cense Doucette ; Dauphine de Palembre ; Schone von Choisy ; Ambree ; 

 Ambree de Choisy ; Ambree <J Gros Fruit). — ^Fruit, generally produced 

 in pairs ; large, round, slightly flattened at the base and the apex, as 

 well as on the side, which is marked with an incipient suture. Skin, 

 transparent, so much so as to show the texture of the flesh, of a beau- 

 tiful amber colour, mottled with red, particularly where it is exposed 

 to the sun, and becoming more so the longer it hangs. Stalk, from an 

 inch and a half to two inches long, stout, and placed in a flat depres- 

 sion. Flesh, amber-coloured, tender, and very juicy, sweet, and 

 without any admixture of acid. Stone, small for the size of the 

 fruit, roundish. 



A most delicious cherry ; ripe the beginning of July. The tree is 

 vigorous and spreading in its growth, perfectly hardy, and succeeds 

 well as a standard or on a wall. It is not, however, a very abundant 

 bearer. The leaves are very broad, of a dark green colour, and deeply 

 dentated. 



According to the "Bou Jardinier," tlus variety was raised at Choisy, near 

 Paris, about the year 1760, by M. Gonduin, gardener to the king, Louis XV. 



Belle de Laecken. See Beine Hortense. 



BELLE DE MAGNIFIQUE {Belle de Chatenay ; Belle de Sceaux ; 

 Belle de Spa; De Plantchoury ; Morello de Chai-meux). — Fruit, very 

 large, roundish-oblate, inclining to heart-shaped. Skin, at first pale, 



