Rural School Leaflet 



130S 



apart, and the larger-growing sweet cherries are planted from twenty- 

 five to thirty feet apart. 



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

 on spurs on two- or three-years 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. Tliese 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, a large 

 amount of wood growth in a single year should not be encouraged, and, 

 since heavy pnming induces wood growth, young cherry trees should be 

 pruned but lightly. From 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 

 on the heavier soils than do the sweet cherries. Clean shallow culture 

 should always be practiced. A cover crop should be sown in midsummer, 

 to remain on the ground until the following spring. 



Cherries arc 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 cherry tree will thrive with as little care as an}^ of the fruit trees, 

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

 every farm and in every garden. 



Rural school children planting a tree 



