CHERRIES. 



147 



RATAFIA GRIOTTE. Pr. cat. 



Griotte a ratafia, Cerisier a petit fruit noir, Duh. 

 Common Morello ? 



The branches of this tree grow pretty erect, and free from 

 irregularity. The leaves are of medium size, and well sup- 

 ported on their petiole ; the flowers have the divisions of the 

 calyx indented, as is the case with those of most of the seedling 

 cherries of the Griotte class. The fruit is small, being only 

 seven to eight lines in diameter, by six to seven in height ; its 

 skin is thick, dark red, and almost black; the flesh is also dark 

 red, acid and bitter at its full maturity, which it attains at Paris 

 during the month of August. This cherry is seldom eaten, 

 but is almost wholly used to make ratafia and cherry wine. 



SMALL RATAFIA GRIOTTE. Auth. 



Petite Griotte d ratafia. Cerisier a tres petit fruit noir. Duh. 



This cherry is smaller than the preceding one ; its peduncle 

 is longer, and often attended by a small leaflet at the base ; the 

 skin is, like the foregoing, of a dark red colour, and its flesh 

 has still more acidity, sharpness, and bitterness ; it is made use 

 of for the same purposes, but is later at maturity, and at Paris 

 does not ripen until the end of August. 



GERMAN MORELLO. Pr. cat. 



German Griotte. \ Griotte d'Allemagne. Griotte de Chaux. Duh. 



The branches of this variety are long and slender, and do 

 not support themselves well ; the leaves are broad, and its 

 flowers take a moderate expansion; the fruit, whose peduncle 

 measures fifteen to twenty lines in length, is eleven in diame- 

 ter, and nearly the same in height ; its skin is brownish red, 

 approaching a black hue, and its flesh dark red. This is a 

 handsome cherry, and it is to be regretted that it is subject to 

 blight, and is also too acid, and even sour, when planted in a 

 cold and humid soil. It ripens in the first part of July. 



