STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 53 



What sight on the farm is more beautiful than a tree loaded 

 with big, ripe cherries ? What fruit on the farm so delights the 

 children ? Why, then, is a fruit so desirable not more generally 

 grown? The first reason is because of an impression quite 

 prevalent that it is more difficult to grow than other fruits. 

 The black knot, it is said, will put in an appearance, weaken, 

 and soon destroy the tree. If the tree escapes the black knot 

 the birds are sure to take the cherries ; so the farmer selects 

 fruits not subject to these drawbacks. Some varieties of cher- 

 ries are too tender to endure our severe climate, and failure 

 has sometimes resulted from the selection of wrong varieties. 



The cherry, it is true, requires somewhat different treatment 

 than other fruits. Of course it is expected that the more deli- 

 cate fruits like the plum and the cherry require higher cultiva- 

 tion than the more common fruits like the apple. Also the 

 cherry requires higher cultivation on our thin worn-out soils 

 here in ]\Iaine than on the more fertile soils farther south. 

 Under suitable conditions, however, the cherry is not difficult 

 to grow. While the farmer seldom undertakes to grow the 

 cherry, it is a common thing for him to grow the plum. Now 

 it has been my experience that the cherry is more easily grown 

 than the plum. The tree is hardier, more prolific, longer lived, 

 and less subject to the black knot. But it will not thrive on all 

 soils and under all conditions. It is more particular about soils 

 and conditions than many other fruits. It is because this is 

 not more generally understood that many have met with failure. 



There are certain conditions essential to successfully grow 

 this fruit and these conditions must be observed. This point 

 I wish to emphasize: The soil must be deep, the deeper the 

 better. It must also be dry, light, mellow soil, no matter if 

 somewhat inclined towards sand or gravel, if deep. No other 

 tree is so impatient of moisture. It will not thrive .in wet 

 impervious soils. The soil should be porous well down into the 

 subsoil. The character of the subsoil is of as much importance 

 as the surface soil, perhaps of more importance. The drainage 

 must be perfect; and for this reason sloping ground is better 

 than level ground as the water after a rain can more readily 

 drain away. 



