DECEMBER MEETING. ^65 



a most judicious selection of the clioiccst varieties of cherries, every one of theiu 

 appearing quite at homo in that soil and location, finding it entirely congenial, 

 recking little that many had sii[)i)osed it too far uortli for these fine, delicate 

 fruits. The May Duke rather holds a ])rcpondcrance in this collection, ])roving 

 higiily productive, prolitablo, and hardy. Next to this ranks the English 

 Moreilo in relative importance and profit; the others ranking in the following 

 order, viz. : Elton, Yellow Si)aiiish, nnd Black Tartarian. From the first two 

 fine old standard varieties named, the Imlk of his crop at present is produced ; 

 the Early Ivichmond being entirely discarded as too j)Oor a fruit to be recom- 

 mended or adopted among fruit-growers. He Avould not have such a cherry on 

 his i)lace, or offer it in the market ; " would not pick it if he had it ; " it was even 

 too poor for the birds. In presenting before you the views expressed, and the 

 relative estimation of different varieties, as well as the practice and methods of 

 practical fruit-growers in different iiarts of the State, we give you valuable, 

 and, we trust, acceptable facts and information of far more worth tlian mere 

 theories or book studies. He cultivates, in hoed crops, till first Aveek in August. 



The selection in this cherry orchard is about as follows : 125 May Duke, 30 

 English Moreilo, 25 Elton, and 12 Yellow Spanish, with a few old trees of 

 Black Tartarian and Knight's Early Black. The Early Purple Guigne, are all 

 killed out, while May Dukes in same location escaped unharmed. He w^ould 

 have no fears of Tartarian, Y^ellow Spanish, and the fine class of Heart and 

 Bigarreau sweet cherries winter-killing there, except in hollows or low places. 

 These cherry trees have borne all they could stand ever since they commenced 

 bearing, at two years from planting. And your committee beheld them laden 

 witli the crop of 1877; and truly it was a joy and a beauty, and words would 

 fail to portray. They had just begun gathering the crop of English Morellos, 

 the average of the whole being a fraction over one bushel per tree. This orch- 

 ard had been planted only from 4 to 8 years, at the longest. 



He first tried the Chicago market in 1877, and realized $5 per crate of 24 

 quarts. Cost of transportation 12 cents a crate, or one-half cent a quart. 

 Picking cost one cent per quart, leaving a fraction over 18 cents net in Chicago. 

 They are picked by cutting the stem in the middle with scissors, leaving all 

 berries unbroken, they remaining sound a long time in this condition. We 

 saw the Yellow Spanish in a well preserved condition kept ten days in the com- 

 mon berry box, and saw fine May Dukes there in August. They are never 

 troubled with the rot or scald there, nor insects injuring the cherry. Birds 

 l)reyed a little upon early varieties ; killed some 300 cedar birds, known as the 

 cherry bird, also a few bluejays, — the robin being not so bad a fellow there. 

 Other cherries were plentiful in market at 8 cents, while these were selling 

 readily at 18 to 19 net. They must surely be beautiful beyond belief almost. 

 The picking is done by girls, who pick 80 to 'JO quarts each in a day. (Moral : 

 cherries should be picked by girls.) He counsels by no means to shorten in ; 

 always leave the terminal bud: no pruning the cherry, nor touch of the knife 

 to the tree where it can be avoided, and would not liave trees that had lost the 

 leader in the nursery. 



The cherry orchard of J. CI. Kamsdell of South Haven: 110 trees two years 

 planted, except 30 Early Richmond set one year. It comprised the following 

 selections: 30 Early Richmond, 20 Black Tartarian, 20 llockport Bigarreau, 

 10 May Duke, 10 Louis Pliillippe, \\\g Gov. Wood, five Napoleon Bigarreau, 

 -ixnd five Reine liortense. 



These trees are pruned up to high heads four feet; also headed back half of 

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