74 THE CHERRIES OF NEW YORK 



Lutovka, Early Morello, Ostheim and Vladimir. Probably most of these 

 would dwarf standard varieties more or less but in no case is it to be sup- 

 posed that they would have the dwarfing effect of Mahaleb. In the North 

 Mississippi Valley some of these, especially of the Ostheim or Morello 

 type, have been very successfully used as stocks. 



The small, wild, red cherry locally known as the Bird, Pin and as 

 the Pigeon Cherry, Prunus pennsylvanica, found from the Atlantic to 

 the eastern slopes of the Coast Range on the Pacific in northern United 

 States and southern Canada, is often used as a hardy stock. The writer 

 has seen it so used in northern Michigan but from his observation can 

 recommend it only for cold regions and as a makeshift since it dwarfs 

 standard varieties and usually suckers badly. W. T. Macoun, Ottawa, 

 Canada, Dominion Horticulturist, states that this stock is commonly 

 used in the colder parts of Canada and with good results. This cherry 

 is not as distantly related to orchard varieties as the Mahaleb and unites 

 with Soiir Cherries at least as readily as does the Mahaleb. 



In the West and Northwest the Sand Cherry, Primus piimila, is used 

 very successfully in cold, dry regions as a stock for Sour Cherries. The 

 following is a very good account of its behavior from the pen of the late 

 Professor J. L. Budd, a pioneer cherry grower in the Middle West.' 



" Those who have seen acres of the Sandy Cherry in the northwest 

 loaded with fruit have not been ready to believe it a good stock for the 

 cherry on account of its sprawling bushy habits of growth. But those 

 who have watched its growth when young under culture on rich soil can 

 comprehend the fact that it is as easy to work as the Mahaleb. As with 

 the Mahaleb the seedlings grown in seed bed will be large enough to set 

 in nursery row the next spring, and of good size for August budding. To 

 illustrate its rapidity and uprightness of growth I will state that we rooted 

 a few cuttings in plant house last winter. When set in nursery they had 

 made a show of growth of from two to four inches, yet at budding time, 

 the middle of August, they were fully as large, stocky and upright as the 

 Mahalebs, and in all respects in as perfect condition for budding. 



" This hardiest of all cherries is very closely related to our garden 

 cherries, so nearly indeed that otir botanists long ago decided that valu- 

 able crosses on it might be made. 



"As yet its use for stocks is somewhat experimental, but we can say 

 positively that it united well with our hardy sorts in budding, and it does 

 not dwarf the sorts worked upon it to a greater extent during the first 

 five years of growth than does the Mahaleb." 



^ Iowa Sta. Bui. 10:425. 1890. 



