691 ARBORETUM AND FRUTICETUM. PART 111. 



of France where the variety is supposed to have been originated. Griottier is said to be de- 

 rived from ■fairm. sourness, or sharpness, and applied to this cherry from the acidity of its fruit. 



Spec. Char., S-c. Tree small, branches spreading. Flowers in subsessile 

 umbels, not numerous. Leaves oval-lanceolate, toothed, glabrous. The 

 flowers are smaller than those of C. sylvestris. The fruit is round, melting, 

 full o( a watery sap, more or less flavoured, and almost always sensibly 

 acid. The skin of the fruit is commonly red, but, in the numerous varieties 

 in cultivation, passing into all the shades between that colour and dark 

 purple or black. The skin of all the varieties of C. vulgaris separates 

 easily from the flesh, and the flesh parts readily from the stone; while, in 

 all the varieties of C, sylvestris, the skin is more or less adhering to the 

 flesh, and the flesh to the stone. {Nouveau Du Hamel,v. p. 18.) This spe- 

 cies forms a tree of less magnitude than that of C. sylvestris : it is never 

 found in a truly wild state in Europe, and the aboriginal form is unknown. 

 There are numerous cultivated varieties, which are classed by Loiseleur, 

 in the Nouveau Du Hamel, in three groups, including in the first of these 

 the four following varieties, which we particularise on account of their 

 being purely ornamental. 



Varieties. 



i C. v. 2flore semipleno Hort. The semidouble common Cherry. 



C. v. 3flore pleno Hort. The double-flowered common Cherry. — All the 

 stamens of this variety are changed into petals; and the pistillum 

 into small green leaves, which occupy the centre of the flower. The 

 flower is smaller and less beautiful than that of the double merisier; 

 but, as the tree does not grow so high, and as it can be grown as a 

 shrub, it is suitable for planting in situations where the other cannot 

 be introduced. It is commonly grafted on the Primus Mahdleb. 

 The flower is interesting in a physiological point of view, on account 

 of its central green leaves illustrating Goethe's doctrine of vegetable 

 metamorphoses. (See Lindl. Introd. to Bot. y p. 143.) 



jf C. v. 4 \>ersiciftdra Hort. The Peach-blossomed common Cherry. — The flowers are double, 

 and rose-coloured. This variety was known to Bauhin and to Tournefort, but is at 

 present rare in gardens. "We have not seen it. 



It C. v. 5 foliis variegdtis Hort. The variegated-leaved common Cherry. 



The fruit-bearing varieties are arranged in the Nouveau Du Hamel y 

 under the following heads : — 



1. Flesh whitish, and more or less acid; including the Montmorency 

 cherry. 



2. Flesh whitish, and only very slightly acid; including the English 

 duke cherries. 



3. Flesh red, including the griottiers, or morellos. 



The following selection has been made by Mr. Thompson, with a 

 view of exemplifying the different forms which the varieties of the 

 cultivated cherries assume, as standard trees : — 



The Bigarreau is a tree of vigorous growth, with large pale green 

 leaves, and stout divergent branches. 



Buttner's Yellow is a vigorous-growing tree, like the preceding, but 

 with golden-coloured fruit. 



The Kentish Cherry is a round-headed tree, with slender shoots, some- 

 what pendulous. 



The May Duke is a middle-sized or low tree, with an erect fastigiate 

 head. 



The Morcllo is a low tree, with a spreading head, somewhat pen- 

 dulous ; most prolific in flowers and fruit ; the latter ripening very 

 late, and, from not being so greedily eaten by the birds as most other 

 sorts, hanging on the trees a long time. 



jyOiihem is a dwarf weeping tree, a great bearer. 



General Description. The cherry trees in cultivation, whether in woods or 

 gardens, may, in point of general appearance, be included in three forms : 

 urge trees with stout branches, and shoots proceeding from the main stem 





