14 THANSAOTTONS OF THE ILl-INOTS 



freeze three years ago, contained cherry trees on the Mazzard stock, and 

 they were all killed by the winter, while trees on the Mahaleb stock were 

 not killed. 



Mr. Hammond (of Hancock county) — The Early Richmond cherry 

 bears so heavily that it is a short-lived tree. My experience is, that on its 

 own roots it is the most healthy, and we propagate it from suckers ; and 

 our whole country has been stocked with trees thus propagated, and they 

 give satisfaction. I see my friend G. P. Walker here, who has some ex- 

 perience in growing cherries, and I would be glad to hear from him. 



G. P. Walker (of Hancock county) — I did not come here to talk ; 

 but in reference to this matter, I will say I have an orchard of Early 

 Richmond cherry trees. They are .suckers that have been universally 

 propagated in the same way throughout our part of the country. They 

 begin to bear the third year, and this past season is the first year they 

 have failed. I have also trees of the same variety on the Morello stock, 

 but they are not so productive by one-half 



J. S. Johnson (of Hancock county) — In 1851 I bought the premises 

 I now occupy, and upon them was an orchard of this celebrated Rich- 

 mond cherry; it being, at the time, the only cherry orchard in the 

 country. I have furnished a great many persons with suckers for plant- 

 ing. I furnished Mr. Walker with suckers to set his orchard. It was said 

 that they would not produce the same cherry ; but I continued to give 

 them away, and when nursery-men discovered their value, they came 

 for them. I sold 5,000 to one man in Iowa at one and a half cents 

 each, and he dug them himself. It was ascertained that they were not 

 only productive, but that they produced the same cherry. They sprout 

 freely — too freely to suit me — and, after digging the first crop of sprouts, 

 they were more numerous than ever. I have known orchardists to come 

 many miles to get these sprouts. The crop of fruit failed this year with 

 me, but my trees, planted three years ago, look healthy. The Early 

 Richmond, in Hancock county, is in universal favor. It stands the win- 

 ters even better than the Morello, and is more healthy. It is in every 

 way fully as hardy, I think. 



Dr. Humphrey (of Knox county) — Nine years ago last spring, I 

 bought and planted about one hundred Early Richmond trees ; the third 

 year after setting they bore a crop, and have borne every year since until 

 last year. I am pleased with the Early Richmond on its own roots, and 

 think this plan is the cheapest way to grow cherries. 



The President — I find on cutting into our cherry trees that the 



