SOCIETY OF NORTHERN ILLINOIS. 363 



have, but unfortunately we can raise but one species — the Morello — 

 and but few varieties of that s]iofios do well; all others have been 

 failures with me. The early Ixielinjond lias l)een tlie standard; a 

 hardy tree until the last two years, and an excellent bearer. The 

 Leib has not met our expectation. It does not bear. The Dye 

 House proves to be the Early Richmond. The JMontmorenc y is ju'ov- 

 inir itself to be a choice cherrv, lart^er and later than Marlv Rich- 

 mond, as hardy and as good a bearer, a better fruit in quality; it has 

 borne with me for several years, and in future shall advocate its 

 planting. The English Morello has had its day; fruit too tart and 

 not rich in flavor. Have the Ortheim on trial. It has not fruit<Ml 

 with me yet. The Dukes a few years ago grew well and bore a fair 

 crop everv third year. We now cannot raise the trees. All the 

 sweet cherries are tender and live but a very few years, not bearing 

 when doing their best. What has become of the Northwest? — one 

 of D. B. Weir's seedlings. It appeared to me to be a cherry of much 

 promise and that should be preserved. The last few years have not 

 heard of it. 



Until within the past about six years, the Morello was the prin- 

 cipal stock used in Northern Illinois for the propagation of cherries. 

 They grafted easily, were easy to get (suckers being used), and were 

 perfectly hardy. Trees on that stock bear younger and better than 

 on any other, and are still thought to be the only stock that will suc- 

 ceed in the heavy clay soil that surrounds Chicago. The Black 

 Morello is considered the best. Some six or more years ago they 

 began to fail as a stock, dying after transplanting in nursery rows 

 and a general refusal of the grafts to unite with the stocks. Thi-^ 

 was not peculiar to those in nursery rows, but wis general also with 

 those not trans))lanted, so that thousands of stock.s have been rooted 

 out and thrown away, until at the present time I doubt if one hun- 

 dred trees can be found in any nursery in Northern Illinois. The 

 Morello stocks have not of late proved to be as hardy as apple i v 

 pear trees, while in former years withstood any and every vicissitude 

 of the weather. We find the Early Richmond and Montmorency to 

 be hardier than the common Morello, and when once a union hiis 

 been effected they seem to invigorate the stock. The other stock, 

 and about the only one used at present — the Mahalel) (the Ma/.yard is 

 too tender here; the roots freeze in our cold winters) — is a good stock, 

 but should be budded low so that the stock may be under or not 

 above the surface of the ground, as the Mahaleb tree is tender, it. 

 makes as large a tree as if the Morello was used; lives as long, if not 

 longer, but does not bear as early or as well, but has not the bad 

 habit of throwing up sprouts. 



The cherry is very particular in its location, more so than most 

 any fruit, and will not thrive or even live in a wet place. It must 

 have dry ground, 



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