MISCELLANEOUS PAPERS. 393 



LATE PLUMS. 



I gathered some Damson plums off the trees today ( ^STovember 25), 

 when there was six inches of snow on the ground. They are about 

 half dried, but retain their flavor, and are fine eating. The dry autumn 

 has allowed them to hang on the trees. It is unusual to gather plums 

 so late, hereabouts. The work with the apples, and the low price of 

 plums was the occasion of their being overlooked ; but I am pleased 

 ■with the oversight, inasmuch as it exhibits the keeping qualities of the 

 Damson. The trees stand near to my Ruby persimmon tree, and the 

 fruit of both on the snow together presented an odd picture. This 

 snow has caught many farmers who have been slow at corn husking, 

 and some turnip patches may not have been pulled, and will remain 

 until spring. They can stand it, however, but husking corn in the snow 

 is not a pleasant job. Samuel Milleb. 



Cherries. 



The following is a paper read on this subject by Mr. E. Yoest be- 

 fore the Maury County Horticultural Society at their regular meeting 

 August 7 in Columbia, Teun. : 



"The cultivated cherry (Prunes Cerasus) is of Asiatic origin, and 

 is said to have been introduced into Italy from Pontus during the 

 Mithradatic war, about 70 B. C, about 120 years afterwards it was 

 introduced into Great Britain. The Eomans recognized only eight 

 varieties; more than 300 varieties are now catalogued. Out of this 

 number there are only two varieties adapted to the soil and climate of 

 Middle Tennessee, the Dukes and Morello. The Dukes have strong- 

 upright branches, while the Morellos have branches more slender and 

 spreading. These are erroneously called sour cherries, some beiug 

 sweet. Hearts and Bigarrean cherries or Sweets, as they are fre- 

 quently called, have too many faults to recommend them to this sec- 

 tion, among which I will mention a few : Their tendency to early 

 blooming, the rapid growth of the trunk, especially on rich soil, which 

 causes the bark to split on the sunny side, when the tree soon dies. 

 Should you be so fortunate as to have your tree to set a crop of cher- 

 ries you would next be confronted by rot caused by heavy spring rains. 

 Should you then be so fortunate as to reach the ripening period safely^ 

 your crop would then be ready for the birds, when in a few days your 

 many thoughts of feasting on the large luscious Hearts and Begar- 

 reans will have vanished as a dream. The cherry being a very hardy 



