CHERRY. 



153 



This is a very old and well known fruit, which with 

 the black corone, and Kentish, were cried about the 

 streets of London seventy years since, and sold for 

 a penny a pound." This variety came originally 

 from France ; its name indicates the shape, and in 

 size it varies according to the nature of the soil on 

 w^iich it is grown. The pulp is firm, with a rich 

 juice ; and the tree is an excellent bearer, though of 

 a straggling and spreading growth, consequently 

 requiring more room in the orchard than the May 

 duke. 



At present the white heart is not so extensively 

 planted as it deserves to be ; it is profitable wher- 

 ever it is, and it has one valuable property which 

 others have not, viz. it is proof against cracking in 

 wet weather. 



5. Royal Kensington Duke, — This variety was re- 

 ceived by the author from Mr. He wit of Brompton, 

 who propagated it from a tree left by Mr. Jefferys, 

 and who considered it to have been introduced from 

 France by London and Wise. This is likely to be 

 true, as it is particularly noticed in Merlet's cata- 

 logue. The fruit very much resembles the May 

 duke in size, colour, and richness of juice, only it 

 ripens later, and the tree appears to be somewhat 

 more hardy. It holds a middle place between the 

 May, and the Arch dukes : and as filling up a gap 

 between the two, is on this account a valuable sort. 

 For dwarfs in the open ground, this variety is next 

 to the May duke, and may be trained and managed 

 in a similar manner. 



