20 
THE CULTIVATOR. 
Jam. 
$f)c horticultural ®*partmcnt. 
CONDUCTED BY J. J. THOMAS 
The Eight Cherries 
Selected by the National Fruit Convention of Ne w- York . 
The National Fruit Convention, held last autumn in 
New-York city, selected through its fruit committee, 
and after deliberate discussion, adopted select lists of 
the different kinds of fruit, consisting of such varieties 
as thorough trial entitled to rank as worthy of exten¬ 
sive cultivation. Among them, the eight varieties of 
cherry were chosen, as figured above. A part of them 
may be old acquaintances to many of our readers, but 
we believe some remarks on the character of the eight 
best and most thoroughly proved varieties, cannot fail 
to be interesting to many young cultivators. 
I. BLACK CHERRIES. 
1. Knight’s Early Black. —This excellent cherry 
was raised by the late President Knight, of England, 
from the seed of the Graffion or Bigarreau, fertilized 
by the Mayduke. It partakes chiefly of the character 
of the former, and is distinctly a heart cherry, the fruit 
being improved by the cross in an approach from the 
firm flesh of the Graffion to the tender juicy flesh and 
higher flavor of the Mayduke. The growth of the tree 
much resembles that of the Graffion. The fruit is large, 
very slightly irregular, or wavy in outline, obtuse, heart 
shaped, nearly black,* stalk an inch and a quarter to 
an inch and a-half long, rather stout, in a deep cavity ; 
flesh blackish crimson, very tender, juicy, of a rich, 
sweet, and excellent flavor. In quality, it resembles 
the Black Eagle, but is slightly larger, earlier, and is 
readily distinguished by its much deeper cavity at the 
stalk, and by the more downy axils at the midrib on 
the under surface of its leaves. The figure represents 
the average size only; larger specimens are often found. 
It ripens about the middle of 6 mo. (June.) 
2. Black Tartarian. —A well known and most 
popular variety, which originated in Russia. The 
growth of the tree is vigorous, the branches erect, 
leaves large, dark green. Fruit quite large, often an. 
inch in diameter, but on the densely loaded branches of 
full bearing trees, sometimes not more than seven- 
eighths of an inchheart-shaped; surface uneven or 
wavy, glossy; blackish crimson, becoming nearly black ; 
stalk an inch and three-quarters long, moderately sunk ; 
flesh dark crimson, not very juicy, sweet, rich, mode¬ 
rately high flavored. Ripens nearly the same period 
as the preceding. 
3. Mayduke. —Another well known and excellent 
cherry, very hardy, and adapted to nearly all climates 
in which any varieties thrive. In richness of flavor it 
is unequalled among the class of sour cherries. Fruit 
large, varying from roundish to obtuse heart-shaped * 
changing from red to nearly black; flesh dark red when, 
ripe, xery rich, juicy, acid, and high-flavored. The 
growth-of the tree, although somewhat irregular, has 
unusually upright branches for the sour class. It is re¬ 
markable for the variable period of its ripening, com¬ 
mencing early in 6 mo. (June) and often continuing 6 
weeks; the same tree often bearing ripe fruit on one 
part and green on another, and in rare instances, ripe 
fruit has been found growing side by side with green 
and half-grown specimens. The fruit is usually gath¬ 
ered long before full maturity, and before the flavor is 
at all developed, and hence many who have eaten it for 
years, are ignorant of its real excellence. 
4. Black Eagle.- —A cross of the Graffion and May¬ 
duke, much resembling Knight’s Early Black, but dis¬ 
tinguished as already pointed out. Rather large, ob¬ 
tuse heart-shaped, blackish crimson or nearly black; 
stalk moderately slender, an inch and a-half long, but 
little sunk; flesh dark crimson, rich, high flavored, less 
bitter than the Black Heart, and less insipid than the 
Black Tartarian,—which in time of ripening it imme¬ 
diately succeeds. 
II. LIGHT COLORED. 
5. Elton. —Raised by President Knight from seed of 
the Graffion, fertilized with pollen of the White Heart. 
Fruit rather large, ovate heart-shaped, somewhat 
