CHERRIES. 45^ 



and consequently for market purposes, although great, is perhaps only exceeded 

 by its great value medicinal]3\ 



In our climate, notwithstanding its salubrious character, persons are some- 

 times affected with throat difficulties. Perhaps these ditliculties are chiefly 

 inherited from our more eastern progenitors, but from whatever cause, the 

 difficulties exist. Our clergymen and others engaged in public life are 

 especially liable to diseases of the throat and consumption, although these 

 diseases are not so common as at the East. The cherry is admitted to be one 

 of the best antidotes and perhaps the very best furnished by nature's great 

 laboratory. The " Cherry Pectoral " of a famous eastern physician has an 

 immense demand, and it is owing to the efficiency of this antidote, which we 

 may have so abundantly if we only take the necessary pains to raise cherries. 

 If cherries were grown so plentifully as to become the daily food of the people, 

 there would be little occasion for expensive '• Cherry Pectoral ;" the throat 

 diseases would probably be prevented and the hereditary tendency in a great 

 measure overcome. 



The demand for cherries in the season is always greater than the supply, and 

 even when dried, the cherry commands several hundred per cent more per 

 pound than any other dried fruit, not excepting the best imported fruits. This 

 shows that there is an intrinsic value attached to the cherry which no other 

 fruit is known to possess. Both its agreeable alimentary and its valuable 

 medicinal properties, we presume, produce this demand and places this high 

 price on the cherry of commerce. 



A recent invention for stoning cherries removes the only objection to this 

 fruit as an article of great commercial value. 



VARIETIES. 



Of the twenty varieties of cherries mentioned in the appendix to the report 

 of the Michigan State Pomological Society of 1871, .only four or five have been 

 proved profitable for market purposes in Western Michigan, so far as my 

 observation and experience extend. While I would not recommend the exten- 

 sive planting of varieties that have not been proved profitable, it is not amiss 

 to have a few of the choice kinds for experiment. It is, however, with cherries 

 as with strawberries and some other fruits, the strong acid varieties are the 

 most prolific, the surest bearers, and for market and domestic purposes, the 

 most profitable. 



The choice, sweet cherries, although very desirable as table fruit, are not, in 

 my experience, a very sure crop, and being subject to the depredations of the 

 birds are seldom profitable, while the acid varieties are regularly good bearers, 

 and, being almost free from the attacks of the birds and boys, generally remain 

 on the tree until gathered. When thoroughly ripe they are of very rich flavor. 



The Early Purple Guigne appears to have become the favorite variety in the 

 southern portion of Michigan's fruit region, and its early and regular bearing, 

 and its good flavor, renders it an excellent and profitable variety. Of the sweet 

 cherries I presume it is the best that can be cultivated profit;ably in this region 

 of the State, so far as ascertained. 



The Early White Heart is a small sweet cherry, valuable for its earliness, 

 but not" desirable for extensive planting on account of its smallness. 



Kirtland's Morrello is a short stocked variety, but I have failed to discover 

 any superiority in it over the common Morrello. In fact I do not find it as 

 sure a bearer. One objection to it is the smallness of its leaves, a serious defect 

 in a climate subject to early, scorching sun. The fruit forms before the leaves 



