THE KANSAS CHERRY. 43 



protected by law, and that the fruit is used by the public. We think 

 the latter part of this arrangement is fully understood })y the young 

 American. His by-laws may not be very explicit, but he very promptly 

 incorporates this fruit as a part of his constitution. 



Regarding the market, the outlook for a large and brisk demand, 

 unsupplied by home growers, is most promising just now for enter- 

 jDrising and wide-awake jjroduoers to secure. 



THE CHERRY. 



By B. F. Smith, Lawrence, Kan. 



The cherry commonly known in this country originated in Asia. 

 One of the old historians says it was first brought to Italy by Lu- 

 cullus after his victory over Mithridates, seventy-four years before 

 Christ. Pliny repeats a tradition that it was brought to Rome from 

 Syria. Cherries were extensively grown by the Romans, and it is 

 supposed they introduced them into Britain in the third century. 

 While its history is somewhat enveloped in the fog and darkness of 

 jDast ages, still we are led to believe that the genesis of the cherry was 

 in the garden of Eden, where doubtless the apple, pear, peach and 

 quince had their origin. 



Some authors make four classes, but really there are only two 

 ■classes, sour and sweet cherries. The Hearts and Bigarreaus are 

 .sweet. Trees of the sweet sorts are lofty and rapid growers, with large 

 leaves. The Dukes and Morellos are slow growers, forming low, 

 spreading trees ; dark green narrow leaves, and acid or subacid fruit. 

 >Sweet cherries are adapted to dessert, and are cooling and refreshing 

 when fresh from the trees. The Dukes and Morellos are too sour for 

 •dessert, yet they are most valuable in the North for canning and com- 

 imercial use. 



The cherry does best on moderately dry soil, yet it will thrive on 

 almost any soil where corn and the cereals grow. Some varieties suc- 

 ceed as far north as Norway, sixty-three degrees north latitude. In 

 some parts of Germany the public roads are lined wath cherry trees 

 for many miles. 



A few kinds are true to the parent and can be raised from the seed, 

 but the most valuable varieties usually have no meat in the seed. 

 Good seedlings averaging eighteen inches high may be transplanted 

 from the seed-bed when a year old, and if well cultivated may be 

 budded the same season. Where the buds fail, grafting may be done 

 the following spring. 



The cherry orchard should be well cultivated for at least four years, 



