FORTY-FIFTH ANNUAL REPORT. 23 



winter. The next spring they act as a mulch to hold moisture and en- 

 courage the growth of the vetch; then about the time the trees are going 

 out of blossom in :May, we liave all the growth we want to turn under 

 with the plow or thoroughly work up with the disk. 



I have also seen in additicm to this treatment the wonderful effects 

 of a little stable manure and y.ood ashes, and these are about the only 

 fertilizers I have ever used in the cherry orchard. 



PRTJNING. 



T am in favor of a rather low headed tree. Leave 4 or 5 main scaffold 

 lindis distributed in snch a way as to make a well balanced head and 

 avoid the formation of crotches. Cherries as a rule do not need severe 

 pruning. The toj) should be ke])t well balanced and o])en enough for 

 convenience in spraying and gathering the fruit, as well as for the ad- 

 mis.sion of air and sunlight. 



Some of the smaller growing sour cherries however, such as the 

 Osteine and English Morello recjnire a different method of pruning. 

 They are apt to form nmny long tine drooi>ing branches. Part of these 

 should be cut out and the remaining one cut back to guard against the 

 tendency to excessive bearing, and encourage the growth of new wood. 



SPRAYING. 



spraying is a necessity in a cherry orchard. There are fungus dis- 

 eases that prey upon the foliage and the fruit as v.ell as insect enemies; 

 but by intelligent and jtromitt action they may be kept under control. 

 The diseases that have been most troublesome to us are the short hole 

 fungus on the foliage and the brown rot of the fruit. Under ordinary 

 conditions these diseases- may be controlled by the use of lime-sulphur 

 solution, but in seasons favorable for the development of fungus dis- 

 eases I have sometimes thought that the Bordeaux mixture was more 

 lasting in its effects. We use the lime-sulphur 1 to 9 for the dormant 

 spray; then after the blossoms have fallen, lime-sulY)hur 1 to 40 or 

 Bordeaux mixture, with 2 or '.] pounds of arsenate of lead to .50 gallons. 

 Some later sprayings may be needed depending on the character of the 

 season. We like to spray once with Bordeaux mixture after the fruit 

 is gathered. It seems to keep the foliage in good healthy condition the 

 rest of the season and we believe this helj.'s the maturing of the fruit 

 buds and the new growth. 



HARVESTING THE CROP. 



The busiest season in the cherry orchard is the time of gathering the 

 fruit. The picking comes at a time of the year when the' schools are 

 closed and when many people from the cities like to get out into the 

 country for a sununer vacation. By ])roviding them with a place to 

 live and facilities for light housekeeping it is not difficult to get jtickers 

 at a uniform price of 25 cents for a 10 quart case. This is the ])ackage 

 in which most of our cherries are sent to the market. 



The gross returns have been more per acre than for anj- other fruit 



