REPORT OF THE HORTICULTURIST. 131 



Most of the Russian and German cherries described in Bu ittin No. 17 of the 

 Experimental Farm have realized expectations then expressed in regard to hardiness 

 and productiveness. The varieties specially recommended are beiag planted to a con- 

 siderable extent, but would be more generally cultivated if the tress were easily obtain- 

 able. Scions of these are available to a limited extent from the Central Farm. 



SAND cherry — Prunus pumila, 1 



The encouraging and almost astonishing success which has attended the efforts of 

 those who have directed their energies to the improvement of the native plum, has had 

 the effect of drawing attention to the possibility of a like improvement of the native 

 cherry. 



Among the wild edible fruited cherries none present so many desirable character- 

 istics, combined with a natural variability, as are found in the different forms of the 

 Dwarf cherry. The common sand cherry Prunus pumila. L., is widely distributed 

 throughout Canada. Macoun says it is found in New Brunswick, Quebec, and westward 

 along the St. Lawrence and great lakes and on the prairies to about the 106th meridian. 

 Its natural habitat is on sandy or rocky shores, flourishing even among drifting sand. 

 An allied form Prunus Besseyi, Bailey, is found growing freely upon the sandy plains 

 west of the Missouri River creeping up to, and upon the foothills of the Eastern Rockies. 



Flants of the Sand cherry are easily grown from seed. "When young — one year old 

 — it is strictly erect, but as it becomes older the base or trunk becomes reclined and often 

 covered with sand ; but the young growth maintains its erect character. The plant 

 has long and narrow sharply-toothed leaves and a willow-like habit." (Bailey in Bulletin 

 No. 70, Cornell University Exp. Sta.) This willow-like appearance is quite marked, 

 so much so that some of those who received plants of this cherry, which were distrib- 

 uted last spring through the provincial horticultural societies, were led to inquire if a 

 willow had not been sent in mistake for the Sand cherry. At four or five years, this 

 plant forms a trailing bush three or four feet high, with a horizontal stretch of branch- 

 es, twice that distance. The trailing branches frequently take root and thus it is 

 easily propagated by layering. On account of its dwarf habit and great hardiness, it 

 would seem valuable for cold districts, especially where it would be naturally protected 

 by snow. The fact of it growing so freely on any sandy location would seem to indi- 

 cate that it possesses the requisite qualifications for successful cultivation in dry clim- 

 ates. 



FRUIT. 



The fruit exhibits in the wild state and under cultivation, great variability as to 

 size, quality, and season of maturity. In the spring of 1888 six plants were set in 

 nursery row at the Central Farm, which were obtained from the drifting sands on the 

 eastern shores of Lake Huron. They made fair growth and began fruiting in 1891. The 

 fruit was not promising either in regard to size or quality. Attempts were made — but 

 without success — by the writer in 1891-92 to effect a cross between the sand cherry and 

 varieties of the Morello. A considerable quantity of seed was collected in 1892 and sown 

 the following year. Several thousand plants were raised, a portion of which were dis- 

 tributed to members of the provincial horticultural organizations of the Dominion. As 

 in all probability these plants will vary widely, I shall be obliged if those who have re- 

 ceived them will report to this division in regard to the character of fruit obtained. A 

 considerable proportion of the plants grown from seed in 1893 and allowed to remain 

 undisturbed in the nursery row, fruited this year. The accompanying illustration is 

 reproduced from a photograph of a selected sample of fruit, natural size, from one of 

 these plants. 



As a rule the fruit is smaller than Early Richmond, black, round and sometimes 

 slightly conical or heart-shaped. The flesh is rather tough, the juice inclined to be bit- 

 ter and the pit large. The variation illustrated (and there were many others all more 

 8c— 9£ 



