BLACK GUIGNE
Prunus avium
- 1. Prince Pom. Man. 2:112. 1832.
- Scheur-Kers. 2. Knoop Fructologie 2:36, 43. 1771.
- Frühe Schwarze Herzkirsche. 3. Christ Wörterb. 274. 1802.
- Guigne Bigaudelle. 4. Prince Pom. Man. 2:113. 1832.
- Coburger Maiherzkirsche. 5. Ill. Handb. 51 fig., 52. 1860. 6. Oberdieck Obst-Sort. 377. 1881. 7. Lauche Deut. Pom. III:No. 1, Pl. 1882.
- Guigne Noire Commune. 8. Leroy Dict. Pom. 5:328, 329 fig., 330. 1877.
- Noire Hâtive de Cobourg. 9. Mas Pom. Gen. 11:123, 124, fig. 62. 1882.
There is much confusion in the history of this old cherry. It undoubtedly originated in France and in that part of the country later conquered by the Germans, though Mas, in his Pomologie Générale, mentioned it as probably of German origin. In the time of Louis XIII this variety was known as the Guigne Noire Commune and was cultivated quite extensively in France and northern Italy. It was esteemed both for its earliness and its fine quality and was known as Guigne Guindoulle by the peasants of central France and by the Tuscans in Italy as Corbini because of the color of its skin. Black Guigne, Black Heart, and Early Purple, which, while similar in many characters, are entirely distinct, have been badly confused by both French and German writers and it is only with the greatest difficulty that the three can be separated. While this cherry was formerly considered of worth in Continental Europe, it is scarcely recognized there now and was probably never brought to America. The following description is compiled from European fruit-books:
Tree very large, round-topped, spreading, irregular in outline, productive; branches long, large, straight, brownish, mottled with gray scarf-skin; internodes long and unequal; leaves large, oval or oblong, acuminate; margin irregularly serrate; petiole long, slender, with large glands; blooming season late; flowers small.
Fruit matures the last of June to the middle of July, usually attached in pairs but sometimes in threes; medium to large in size, obtuse-cordate; color bright reddish-black changing to deep purple; suture indistinct; stem slender, inserted in a deep, broad cavity; skin thin, tender; flesh dark purple, with abundant colored juice, half-tender, somewhat stringy, sweet yet sprightly, pleasantly flavored; quality good; stone small, oval.
BLACK HAWK
Prunus avium
- 1. Horticulturist 6:360, 361 fig. 1851. 2. Am. Pom. Soc. Rpt. 45, 235. 1854. 3. Elliott Fr. Book 190 fig. 1854. 4. Hooper W. Fr. Book 258, 270, 271. 1857. 5. U. S. D. A. Rpt. 382. 1875.
- Épervier Noir. 6. Mas Pom. Gen. 11:41, 42, fig. 21. 1882.
Despite the fact that Black Hawk was lauded by the horticulturists in the middle of the last century as one of the best of all black Sweet Cherries, it is now almost unknown. According to the older pomologists it was unsurpassed for eating out of hand but was only mediocre in all other characters of either fruit or tree. In particular it was surpassed in many ways by the better-known Eagle which fills about the same place in cherry culture. The variety was very popular in southern Ohio about Cincinnati where many trees may still be found and where it is still more or less planted. Possibly because of the excellent quality of the fruit, the amateur might well try a tree or two. The description is compiled.
Black Hawk originated with Professor J. P. Kirtland of Cleveland, Ohio, sometime previous to 1845. It is one of the best of the many seedlings fruited by him. The American Pomological Society in 1854 named this sort as one of the promising new fruits and it still remains on the fruit-list of this organization.