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Acknowledgments First, I want to thank Mr. Arie Peterse for teaching me how to look at cherries, for lending me many splendid slides, and for his pleasant company while traveling through Japan. In a way this book commemorates the late Dr. Onno Wijnands, director of the Wageningen Botanic Gardens, because he suggested that we cooperate to make this book. I acknowledge the help of the Flower Association of Japan and specifically Mr. S. Iwai, Mr. Y. Takishima, and Mr. H. Wada in the association's Tokyo office, who were always friendly when answering questions or helping with introductions. The expert on varieties in the field, Mr. H. Tanaka of the association's Experimental Station in Ibaraki, helped greatly, as did the association's researcher, Mr. T. Kawasaki, who kindly presented scientific material and gave his time to discuss the cherries. At the Tama Forest Science Garden in Tokyo, Mr. T. Katsuki and Mr. Y. Nishiyama introduced the garden's cherry collection, while Mr. E. Iwaki and Mrs. H. Morishima showed the collection of the National Institute of Genetics in Mishima. In I was helped by Mr. T. Sano, who kindly presented valuable source material, and by Professors Y. Tsukamoto, S. Yazawa, and H. Maruyama, who helped me trace sources in the various libraries of the University. Mr. S. Takabayashi, director, and Mr. S. Matsutani of the Botanic Garden showed me the garden's cherry collection and allowed me to use material for research. Mrs. C. Teune of the Botanic Garden of Leiden University, the Netherlands, not only donated precious source material, but also helped with introductions. Professor Y. Kobayashi, trustee of the Flowering Cherry Association of Japan, gave kind advice, as did Mr. Roland M. Jefferson, formerly attached to the U.S. National Arboretum, Washington, D.C. The ForestFarm nursery in