Buds variable in size and shape, rather long, plump, free, arranged singly as lateral buds and in small clusters on spurs variable in length; season of bloom early; flowers white, one and one-fourth inches across; borne in scattering clusters, usually in twos; pedicels characteristically long, often one and one-fourth inches, slender, glabrous; calyx-tube with a faint tinge of red, campanulate; calyx-lobes tinged with red, long, acute, serrate, glabrous within and without, reflexed; petals broadly oval, serrate, with short, blunt claws and a shallow, notched apex; filaments one-fourth inch long; pistil glabrous, shorter than the stamens. Fruit matures very early; one inch in diameter, cordate, slightly compressed; cavity regular; suture a faint line; apex pointed; color purplish-black; dots numerous, small, grayish, obscure; stem tinged with red, slender, nearly two inches long, adhering to the fruit; skin thin, tender, separating readily from the pulp; flesh dark reddish-purple, with dark colored juice, tender, melting, mild, sweet; of very good quality; stone free except along the ventral suture, rather large, broadly oval, compressed near the apex, with smooth surfaces. EARLY RICHMOND _Prunus cerasus_ =1.= Thacher _Am. Orch._ 217. 1822. =2.= Prince _Pom. Man._ =2=:142. 1832. =3.= Elliott _Fr. Book_ 194, 195 fig. 1854. =4.= _Am. Pom. Soc. Cat._ 12. 1871. =5.= _Del. Sta. An. Rpt._ =12=:115 fig., 116. 1900. _Flanders._ =6.= Parkinson _Par. Ter._ 571. 1629. _Kentish._ =7.= Miller _Gard. Kal._ 154. 1734. =8.= Truchsess-Heim _Kirschensort._ 660, 661. 1819. =9.= Downing _Fr. Trees Am._ 196 fig., 197. 1845. =10.= _Am. Pom. Soc. Cat._ 74. 1862. =11.= Mas _Le Verger_ =8=:25, 26, fig. 11. 1866-73. _Cerisier Hâtif._ =12.= Duhamel _Trait. Arb. Fr._ =1=:170, 171, Pl. IV. 1768. =13.= Truchsess-Heim _Kirschensort._ 657, 658, 691. 1819. =14.= Poiteau _Pom. Franc._ =2=: No. 13, Pl. 1846. =15.= Leroy _Dict. Pom._ =5=:343, 344 fig., 345. 1877. _Cerise de Volger._ =16.= Knoop _Fructologie_ =2=:36, 43. 1771. _Frühzeitige Amarelle._ =17.= Truchsess-Heim _Kirschensort._ 616-618. 1819. =18.= Dochnahl _Führ. Obstkunde_ =3=:70. 1858. _Early Griotte._ =19.= Prince _Pom. Man._ =2=:131, 132. 1832. _French._ =20.= _Quebec Pom. & Fr. Gr. Soc. Rpt._ 122, 123. 1906.