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THE MONTHLY BULLETIN. 



THE CHERRY INDUSTRY OF NAPA COUNTY. 



By W. D. Butler, County Horticultural Commissioner, Napa, Cal. 



The writer, while having grown up in the cherry industry, approaches the subjeci 

 with many misgivings as to any authoritative information he can give. Identical 

 factors during different years have caused such varied results that all our old cut 



and dried rules seem to be chaotic. 



Napa County was among the first of the localities 

 of the state to have any cherry plantings. Early 

 settlers planted quite extensively for their day in 

 Hie vicinity of Napa, but later moved !.o the Vaca 

 Valley, on learning that cherries ripened earlier 

 there. It is true that the very earliest cherries 

 bring the best prices but of late years the tide seems 

 to be turning in favor of the large, firm, good 

 shipping, late varieties. This condition has been 

 a large factor in causing quite extensive planting of 

 which nearly all are of the late shipping varieties 

 and, of course, the old canning stand-by, the "Royal 

 Anne." The logic of this is that the central Cali- 

 fornia and the foothill districts are out of the way 

 and the bay counties have the market to themselves 

 with very superior cherries to ship. Also it i* 

 possible then to load mixed cars consisting of apri- 

 cots, plums, peaches and cherries, under which 

 conditions no market is called upon to lake one 

 entire car of any one kind of fruit, resulting in 

 better prices. So, not being able to catch the "bull by the horns," we hrve "him by 

 the tail." "We get there," though a little late. 



All varieties do well in this county. The poorest is the Centennial, which cracks 

 badly because of coast influences. The hardiest and most prolific is probably the 

 Black Republican. The Tartarian and kindred varieties do well but the king of 

 them all for profit is the Bing. The Lambert is possibly a finer cherry as to size, 

 but so far has been a shy bearer. It might do better as the tree gets older. It is 

 too new a variety to absolutely condemn. As for the Royal Anne, it does tot do 

 better anywhere. The tree is thrifty and bears well and always stands in good 

 favor with canners as to quality. A person who understands the same can also 

 ship them for profit, usually in excess of canning prices. 



Cherry trees, as is well known, are of extreme long life. The oldest trees in the 

 county are still thrifty and bear well. The only disease we have to contend w'tli is 

 "die-back." The cause does not seem to be well known. By keeping all deadwood 

 removed the tree keeps sending out new wood. Trees that are over forty years old 

 have as nice tops as ever. Because of enthusiasm over large returns, I here have 

 been numerous plantings of late on ground unsuited for cherries. Only land that 

 is light in physical character, rich in fertility and well drained should be used. 

 Sour sap and dying will surely come in the early years of the tree's life ':n heavy 

 soil. Napa County is virtually free from other cherry diseases and pests. The 

 thrips are not bad and seem to do very little damage. Occasionally a young shoot 

 will become infected with black aphis but it does not spread. A cherry orchard is 

 the nicest and easiest of orchards to care for. It requires little pruning and 

 usually no spraying. Soil beneath cherry trees cultivates easily because of the 

 shade which keeps the soil from sun baking. The heavy foliage dropping each year 

 and being incorporated with the soil tends to looseness and ease in keeping a mulch. 

 Several growers in (his vicinity have been doing some experimenting in regard to 

 growing the tree. It has been held that a cherry tree need not be pruned while 

 growing. It has been well demonstrated that a rounder, more bushy and lower 

 tree can be developed by a judicious use of the shears. Another thing has been 

 tried and found successful and that is to top old trees that have become too higu. 

 They respond very well and will in two years form nice new fruiting tops. The 

 writer would also recommend the use of Mazzard seedling stock planted direct in 

 the orchard and then budded or grafted in the first year's growth several inches from 



