THE KANSAS CHERRY. 77 



prising young man would hesitate to plant a cherry orchard for this 

 reason. One of the good things of our fruit-growing is that it de- 

 velops business ability. 



A BICI CHERRY TREE. 



In California there is a Black Tartarian cherry tree, thirty-five years 

 old, that is probably the most productive tree of the kind in the world. 

 The body of the tree four feet from the ground is eleven and one-half 

 feet in circumference, and in one year one and one-half tons of cher- 

 ries were marketed, and besides considerable fruit was used by the 

 owner and much was given away. The quality of this cherry is ex- 

 cellent. We get this item direct from Rev. R. M. Tunnell, recently 

 from California, who thinks this cherry would do well in this Ozark 

 country. 



CHERRIES IN THE WEST. 



There is no fruit that gives more satisfaction to the grower than 

 the cherry. True, the sour cherries are the only ones to plant. The 

 sweets and Bigarreaus do not succeed in our climate. To plant them 

 is sure failure. I know this by experience, as I have planted hundreds 

 without ever seeing them ripen fruit. 



With the sour varieties it is different. I believe there is no place 

 where they do better than here. We have at this time over 4000 

 planted and are still planting. Of varieties there are a number, and 

 to secure a continuance I would name Dyehouse, Early Richmond, 

 Montmorency, Ostheim, English Morello, and Wragg. All are good 

 and early bearers. 



Cherries require dry, good soil. Unless you have well-drained soil 

 it will cause yoa disappointment. On the proper soils the trees are 

 as long-lived as the apple. I know some trees planted here thirty 

 years ago that are still productive. Do not cultivate after the trees 

 are well established. The fruit sets and ripens in a stiff blue-grass 

 sod as when cultivated. We simply mow the grass, allowing it to rot 

 on the ground. One great mistake in growing cherries is in heading 

 the trees too high. I made this mistake with the first 300 trees, set in 

 1876. It requires long ladders to pick the fruit. We now try to keep 

 them down to bush form. It is so much easier to pick the fruit and 

 far less liability of breaking the trees. I have named six varieties in 

 their order of ripening. There is a German cherry here earlier than 

 Dyehouse by at least four days. We call it "Jerusalem." It may be 

 identical with Early Morello. A Mr. Saur brought it from "father- 



