48 STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



affording ornament and a grateful shade and refreshment to the traveller at 

 the same moment. Mr. Loudon, in his Arboretum, gives the following account 

 of the cherry avenues in Grermany, which we gladly lay before our readers: — 

 "'On the Continent, and more especially in Germany and Switzerland, the 

 cherry is much nsed as a road-side tree ; particularly in the northern parts of 

 Germany, where the apple and pear will not thrive. In some countries the 

 road passes for many miles together through an avenue of cherry trees. In 

 Moravia, the road from Brunn to Olmutz passes through such an avenue, 

 extending upwards of sixty miles in length ; and in the autumn of 1828, we 

 traveled for several days through almost one continuous avenue of cherry 

 trees from Strasburg by a circuitous route to Munich. These avenues, in 

 Germany, are planted by the desire of the respective governments, not only for 

 shading the traveller, but in order that the poor pedestrian may obtain refresh- 

 ment on his journey. All persons are allowed to partake of the cherries, on 

 condition of not injuring the trees; but the main crop of the cherries, when 

 ripe, is gathered by the respective proprietors of the land on which it grows; 

 and when these are anxious to preserve the fruit of any particular tree, it is, as 

 it were, tabooed ; that is, a wisp of straw is tied in a conspicuous part to one of 

 the branches, as vines by the road-sides as in France, when the grapes are ripe, 

 are protected by sprinkling a plant here and there with a mixture of lime and 

 water, which marks the leaves with conspicuous white blotches. Every one 

 who has travelled on the Continent in fruit season must have observed the 

 respect that is paid to these appropriating marks; and there is something 

 highly gratifying in this, and in the humane feeling displayed by the princes 

 of the different countries in causing the trees to be planted. It would indeed 

 be lamentable if kind treatment did not produce a corresponding return.'" 



DWARFS AND STANDAEDS. 



" To produce a dwarf cherry tree," says Mr. William Cobbett, which is desir- 

 able for some purposes and locations, the stock must come from the stone of 

 the Morrello or a May Duke, a Black Heart, a White Heart, or a Bigarreau; 

 but for a tall standard tree, select stock from the small black cherrv tree that 

 grows so universally in the w^oods." The practice of modern nurserymen, 

 however, as described by Mr. A. J. Downing, is to bud the finer varieties on 

 the seedlings of the common black Mazzard, which is a very common kind, 

 producing a great abundance of fruit and very healthy, free-growing stocks. 

 Downing also recommends budding low down on young stock. For dwarfs 

 Downing also says the Morrello seedlings are used, but standards are universally 

 preferred. 



THE CHERRY AS TIMBER. 



As a timber tree the cherry ranks high. It is in value and richness next to 

 our famous black walnut, while its growth is much more rapid. The desk on 

 which I write is made of Michigan cherry ; the household furniture next best 

 to black walnut and mahogany is made of Michigan cherry and thence trans- 

 ported to all parts of the world; the best printers' furniture made in New 

 York, Boston and Cincinnati is manufactured from Michigan cherry, and dis- 

 tributed from thence wherever civilization has carried the printing press. 

 Cherry, as grown wild in the woods of Michigan, is sought for by the manu- 

 facturers of school furniture in Chicago, Boston, and New York, as the best 

 wood they can find for their purpose. It is easily worked; receives a good 

 polish ; has a delightful lively color, and, in contrast with maple and walnut. 



