42 THE KANSAS CHERRY. 



cherry's favorite home"; therefore good drainage should be one espe- 

 cial point needing attention where a compact subsoil is known to ex- 

 ist near the surface, as the cherry is a shallow-rooted tree, and too 

 much moisture about the fibrous roots when the trees are small will 

 greatly lessen the prospects of a vigorous growth. A. N. Swigart, of 

 lola, suggests the digging of one or more trenches to lead the surplus 

 moisture away from the trees while young, as all trees in this climate 

 that are budded on to the French Mahaleb roots are hard to get started, 

 but if carefully set, cultivated, mulched, watered and protected from 

 surplus water during the first year are usually safe and profitable, and 

 are always non-sprouters — the latter characteristic being a very im- 

 portant one. 



Of varieties, we shall mention onl)' those that have been found 

 worthy and proven their merits in the experiences of our members 

 and neighbors. There are three primary varieties that have a part in 

 subject, viz., Dukes, Morellos, and sweet or Bigarreaus. Of these 

 the first two are sour, and they have many crosses and do well in our 

 county. Of our succession, the first would be the Dyehouse, which 

 ripens in June ; the Early Richmond, a very popular and rich variety, 

 a week later ; then Olivet, one of the Morello family, but not so tart 

 as its parents; next Montmorency, of which there seems to be two 

 kinds, early and late. Of the early, Mr. Grosbeck planted four trees 

 in lola ; they were well cared for while young, and now annually pro- 

 duce five dollars' worth of cherries per tree, and one year doubled 

 that yield, we are informed. The fruit is large, rich, and ripens in 

 June. English Morello should not be omitted, as it. seldom fails to 

 bear a full crop here ; but care should be exercised to select your trees 

 from a good kind of the many Morellos. They are a good cherry for 

 shix)j)ing, ripening in August, but will sprout upon the slightest 

 provocation. We have not found the sweet varieties profitable here, 

 and do not advise their culture for profit, but for variety, a few in 

 especially favored localities. Of these Governor Wood has proven 

 the favorite in our locality. It is a cross between the Morello and 

 Bigarreau, in which the former .shows in the form of the tree and 

 leaf, but the fruit is a true Bigarreau, except it is of a lighter color. 

 Some scientists claim that our climatic conditions are undergoing a 

 change, and that our fruits are affected less by the drying winds, and 

 that our moisture suj)ply is more sure, which, if true, may give the 

 sweet cherry a hope for success ; but of that we cannot now advise. 



As to pruning, the cherry should have a symmetrical top started 

 by the judicious grower, and then he should stand back to watch its 

 development and guard it from the youngsters. We are told that in 

 Europe the cherry is planted along the roadside, and cared for and 



