Jpliitcr Meeting. 4^9 



ful trees, with scattering fruit of very choice quality, large size and 

 brilliant color, but in a few years the trees began to crack and burst 

 open, and soon after died. The Richmonds began to bear some almost 

 from the start. I planted the trees twenty feet apart, and between the 

 rows and in the rows set Early Harvest blackberries, six and two-thirds 

 feet between rows. I cultivated trees and plants about four times 

 with a five-tooth cultivator each season and hoed clean twice up to 

 August I to 10. The orchard seemed to come right along without any 

 extra trouble, with very little pruning or trimming; no labor catching 

 worms or spraying. Cleaning out the old blackberry canes was the 

 tedious part and picking the fruit. 



As to market, we had a good market for all our fruit until the trees 

 in 1900 yielded an average of two bushels to the tree on about seventy- 

 five Richmonds, which had survived for twelve years since planting. As 

 I thought the home market might be overloaded, I shipped to Omaha, 

 Neb., from six to eight crates per day of twenty-four boxes each for 

 about ten days, as well as supplying the home trade at $1.50 per crate. 

 The cherries I shipped to Omaha realized about $1.50 per crate, besides 

 the commission and express, and after deducting cost of packages and 

 picking, realized about $1.50 per bushel on the whole crop of 150 bush- 

 els. The picking was done by women and boys with stepladders and 

 tv;o-gallon tin pails, at a cost of one and one-half cents per quart, or 

 twelve cents per pail. 



Where will cherry growing pay? On any good upland soil in 

 Kansas or Missouri where corn is a sure crop, where the drainage is 

 good, where the cultivation is thorough, where the trees are well cared 

 for, and where you have a good home market. 



I give also a letter concerning the experience of my friend. Col. 

 W. D. Houston, at Garnett, Kansas. 



EXPERIENCE WITH CHERRY ORCHARDS. 



I planted about 50 cherry trees in the spring of 1898 — I think it 

 was. They all died, or were dead when I planted them. I do not 

 know what was the matter, but all the trees of that nursery were in the 

 same condition that year. I replanted the next year. All lived. But 

 about half my ground was low, flat swail. At the end of the second 

 season every tree on this ground was dead ; 1903 and 1904, as you will 

 doubtless remember, were very wet. My remaining trees were ver}'' 

 much injured. Many died. The most important thing I can say is: 

 Never plant cherries except on high grounds, dry, well-drained land. 



