Rural School Leaflet 959 



The cherry is propagated by budding, in the same way as are the apple 

 and pear. The stocks used are the Mazzard, which has been mentioned, 

 and the Mahaleb, a European species. Of the two stocks the Mazzard 

 is the better, because it makes a larger, more vigorous tree. The nursery- 

 man prefers to use the Mahaleb, however, as it effects a union with the 

 scion more readily and does better in the nursery row. Cherry trees are 

 usually set out at two years from the bud, although one-year-old trees 

 may be used. Sour cherries are set 16 to 18 feet apart, and the larger- 

 growing sweet cherries are planted 25 to 30 feet apart. 



The tree does not require much pruning. Most of the fruit is borne 

 on spurs on two- or three-year wood, although spurs are found on much 

 older wood. Some fruit is often found at the base of the one-year wood, 

 and these cherries are usually the largest and best. These do not grow 

 on spurs, but come from a single bud; consequently, as soon as the fruit 

 is borne, no further growth takes place. This accounts for the long, bare 

 spaces often found at the base of the one-year wood. In general, we 

 do not wish to encourage a large amount of wood growth in a single year, 

 and as heavy pruning induces wood growth we prune but lightly. Three 

 to five branches are used to form the head. In the sweet cherry the 

 central-growing shoot, or leader, is removed, in order to keep the head as 

 close to the ground as possible. The head of the sour cherry is thinned 

 out and cut back but little. 



Cherries thrive in a warm, well-drained soil that is not too heavy. A 

 gravel is suitable for most varieties, although the sour cherries do better 

 O'n the heavier soils than do the sweet cherries. Clean culture should 

 always be practiced. The cultivation should be shallow, as the roots are 

 close to the surface. A cover crop should be sown in midsummer, to remain 

 on the ground until the following spring. 



Cherries are picked a few days before they are fully ripe. They should 

 always be picked with the stems on unless they are to be canned at once. 

 They should be gathered by the stems instead of by the fruit. The small, 

 one-quart baskets are commonly used, and these are placed in larger 

 packages. 



The cherry tree will thrive with as little care as any of our fruit trees, 

 and responds as readily to skillful treatment. It should be planted on 

 every farm or in every garden. 



THE QUINCE 



The quince is not a native of this country, its first home being in Asia 

 and southeastern Europe. It has been known and used for at least two 

 thousand years. In spite of this fact, the fruit does not compare in impor- 

 tance with our other common fruits, the apple, pear, peach, cherry, and 

 plum. This may be explained in part by the fact that the quince is not 



