Cherries in Michigan, 309 



Cherries in Michigan. 



T the June meeting of the Michigan State Pomological Society, Mr. H. S. 

 Chubb read a paper on cherries, in which we find the following items of interest 

 to Michigan fruit growers : 



Of the twenty varieties of cherries mentioned in the appendix to the report of 

 the Michigan State Pomological Society of 1871, only four or five have been proved 

 profitable for market purposes in Western Michigan, so far as my observation and 

 experience extend. While I would not recommend the extensive planting of varie- 

 ties that have not been proved profitable, it is not amiss to have a few of the choice 

 kinds for experiment. It is, however, with cherries as with strawberries and 

 some other fruits ; the strong acid varieties are most prolific, the surest bearers for 

 market and domestic purposes, the most profitable. 



The choice, sweet cherries, although very desirable as table fruit, are not, in my 

 experience, a very sure crop, and being subject to the depredations of the birds are 

 seldom profitable, while the acid varieties are regularly good bearers, and being 

 almost free from the attacks of birds and boys, generally remain on the trees until 

 gathered. When thoroughly ripe they are of a very rich flavor. 



The Early Purple Guigne appears to have become the variety in the southern 

 portion of the Michigan fruit region, and its regular bearing and its good flavor 

 render it an excellent and profitable variety. Of the sweet cherries, I presume it 

 is the best that can be cultivated profitably in this region of the State, so far as 

 ascertained. 



The Early White Heart is a small sweet cherry, valuable for its earliness, but not 

 desirable for extensive planting on ajcount of its smallness. 



Kirtland's Morello is a short-stalked variety, but I have failed to discover any 

 superiority in it over the common Morello. In fact I did not find it a sure bearer. 

 One objection to it is the smallness of its leaves, a serious defect in a climate subject 

 to early scorching sun. The fruit forms before the leaves protect it and the sun 

 scorches the fruit, stunting its growth and causing a loss of a large portion of the 

 crop. One advantage of the Morello cherry over all others, I think, is its adapta- 

 bility to a northern aspect. It will flourish in almost perpetual shade, and can be 

 planted on the north side of a wall, house or barn with decided advantage. 



Mr. F. R. Elliott, of Cleveland, in the report of the Department of Agriculture 

 for 1867, describes several varieties of cherries not mentioned in the list of our 

 society just referred to. Of these the Kirtland just mentioned is one, and the 

 Archduke, another. The latter he describes as the best of the Duke cherries. I 

 presume the late Duke mentioned in the society's list, may be the same variety, but 

 Mr. Elliott claims that is incorrect, and it bears early in July, and cannot be called 

 a late variety. The Archduke is described as " large, round, heart-shaped, 

 compressed, dark, shining red; stem, long and slender; flesh light red, slightly 

 adhering to the pit; tree vigorous, healthy upright grower, with long, broad, oval, 

 dark, rich green foliage, slightly serrated, and the petioles a little bronzed. In sec- 

 tions where the more tender class of sweet cherries fails to succeed, this variety sup- 

 plies a want and ofi"ers superior claims to cultivation. The true variety is somewhat 



