SOME EXPERIENCE WITH CHERRIES. 137 



of„fruit. The Vladimir was first to ripen and were about even 

 date with Early Richmond; but the quality I consider superior, 

 being sweeter than the Richmond and fully equal to it in size. 

 The Sklanka was only a few days later and I think a little 

 larger in size of fruit and for eating from the hand a little more 

 tart, but very good. The Spate Morello were next to ripen but 

 were too tart for eating from the hand but were in size about 

 the same as Richmond and are excellent for canning j)urposes. 

 The Bessarabia and Griotto Du Nord came on about two weeks 

 later than the others, ripening about the 20th of July. It is a 

 question which of these were the best but my judgement would 

 be that the Bessarabia would be better in some respects. 



The Bessarabia is very fine and large, of a deep black red and 

 when fully ripe one of the finest cherries I have ever noticed. 

 The tree is a vigorous grower with very heavy foliage and of 

 rather an upright growth, inclined to be close-headed and I 

 think on that account would be likely to resist the effect of hot 

 winds. This season the fruit was aU the trees could well have 

 borne in quantity. 



The Griotto Du Nord fruit is not as deep a black red but is of 

 fine size and excellent quality either for canning or eating from 

 the hand. These trees now (January, 1905) are all filled with 

 an abundance of fruit buds and so far I am convinced they will 

 withstand any range of temperature we may have in this cli- 

 mate. Were I planting an orchard of cherries for home or 

 commercial use, I certainly would place these varieties at the 

 top of the list. I have a number of Early Richmond trees in my 

 orchard also and they are doing well, but the quality of the fruit 

 the past season was not nearly equal to the Sklanka or any of 

 those mentioned, except Spate Morello. 



Several years ago I removed some of the wild choke-cherry 

 to my yard and gave them cultivation and more or less of prun- 

 ing. The fruit has nearly doubled in size and they have not 

 failed to be loaded with fruit every year which is of an improved 

 quality and is much relished by the children of the neighbor- 

 hood. One peculiarity of these trees is that they bear two 

 crops each year, being in bloom while the first crop of fruit is 

 ripe and the second crop ripening late in September. I believe 



