314 STATE BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



medium. Of good quality and firm. Very hardy and productive. On 

 account of its size it is excelled by other varieties as a market berry. 

 I Mid-season. 



Wilson : — An old standard variety that is surpassed by other varieties. 

 Plant is vigorous but somewhat tender. Berries are large but cannot 

 stand dry weather, and run small towards the end of the season. Where 

 it can be well grown it is a large, attractive berry of very good quality. 

 A good shipper. 



CHERRIES. 



As was the case with all of the trees upon the station grounds, the 

 cherries were planted one rod each way. Up to the present time this 

 has answered very well as, although the trees are sixteen years old, 

 they have not occupied all of the space. The sweet cherries, however, 

 are rapidly spreading out and for a permanent orchard it is evident that 

 a distance of about twenty-five feet each way should be given this class 

 of cherries. While the sour varieties of cherries can generally be grown 

 for eighteen to twenty years when planted one rod apart, it will be 

 better to have the trees twenty feet square. 



When the trees were started they were pruned so as to favor low 

 heads; the trunks being eighteen to twenty-four inches high. This has 

 given excellent satisfaction as there has been comparatively little injury 

 from the bursting of the bark which is so common upon trees with 

 tall trunks. 



The cultivation of the orchards for the most part has consisted of 

 dragging up to the first of July and then seeding to some cover crop. 

 This has given good results althougn it has been found necessary oc- 

 casionally to seed the land to clover for a year or two. By cutting thr 

 crop and using it as a mulch under the trees this has given good satis- 

 faction as it nas not only retained the moisture, but has added humus to 

 the soil. The removal of the crop, however, tended to check the growtu 

 of the trees, especially in the summers when drought prevailed. The 

 effect was so serious that it was found necessary to mudrh some of the 

 trees with straw manure. The use of the clover crop as a mulch for 

 the trees as described above tended to ripen the growth in the fall and 

 this results in giving the trees increased hardiness. The cherry trees 

 upon the station grounds are almost ideal in form. In addition to low 

 heads, they were pruned so as to give them a symmetrical form. During 

 the first few years the ends of the branches were headed back, causing 

 the more straggling varieties to thicken up but since that time, very 

 little pruning has been done; being confined to keeping the heads 

 proj»er]y opened up. This really required very little attention. 



The following varieties Avill be found desirable for market: Dye- 

 house, Richmond, Montmorency and King Amarelle of the Morello 

 class, Montrueil and Magnifique of the Dukes and Governor Wood, 

 Napoleon, Schmidt, Tartarian and Windsor of the sweet varieties. 



Morellos. 



Dyehouse: — Ripens slightly before Richmond. The tree is not as 

 thrifty as that of the above variety. The fruit is also more tender. 

 Always productive. Quality good. A good early market variety. 



