THE KANSAS CHERRY. 25 



Very early varieties are grown for these early shipments, such as 

 the Early Purple Guigne, Belle d 'Orleans, Knight's Early Black, etc. 

 These sorts are all inferior in quality to the later kinds, but being 

 early command the high prices of the first market. 



The most popular eating cherry is the Black Tartarian, well known. 

 The Governor Wood, Yellow Spanish, Cleveland Bigarreau and others 

 are rather early white cherries, all too soft for successful shipping 

 or canning. Ripening about with the Black Tartarian is the Centen- 

 nial, a magnificent, firm-fleshed white cherry with a flame cheek. 

 Its only fault is that it cracks on very slight provocation, such as a 

 shower of rain or late irrigation. Black Republican is a late black 

 cherry, very firm and an excellent shipper. 



The very popular cherry of the state is the Napolean Bigarreau, or 

 Royal Ann, as it is known to the trade. This is a wdiite cherry with 

 cheeks of solid color, very hard and firm, shipping well, and most 

 popular with the canners. In large quantities this cherry brings the 

 highest price of any sort. This cherry seems to do well in the moun- 

 tains where other cherries fail. The Black Tartarian does not do well 

 in the mountains, generally. 



The Bing is a cherry first noted in Oregon and giving some promise 

 where introduced in California. 



On unsuitable soil the cherry tree does not flourish or bear. It 

 gums, dies back, or proves barren, often to the great disappointment 

 of the planter. 



The cherry is shipped to all the California cities and to southern 

 California, and on to the east to Chicago, Boston, New York, Phila- 

 delphia, and all important markets. 



The first box usually brings a round ten dollars, and the first few 

 hundred boxes rather fancy prices, and then the price goes according 

 to supply and demand, and the condition in which they are received. 

 During the great railroad strike cars of cherries stood in San Jose de- 

 pot for a full month well iced, and were then opened and the fruit 

 sold here at fair prices. 



One of the best orchards in the state is located near San Jose, the 

 property of Mrs. W. Geiger. It was planted by her husband about 

 twenty years ago and has a deep sediment soil. It is thoroughly irri- 

 gated in the winter or late spring and again in summer after the crop 

 is off. It consists of about twelve acres, principally of the Black Tar- 

 tarian and Royal Ann varieties. 



For many years it was contracted for five-year terms by a very 

 popular shipper, who made much of his reputation by the good qual- 

 ity of the cherries of this orchard. When the contracts expired after 

 the death of Mr. Geiger they were not renewed, and the fruit was 



