MARKETING THE CHERRY CROP 



IN some portions of Prince Edward, 

 Hastings and Northumberland coun- 

 ties, fruit growers of late years have con- 

 siderably increased their cherry acreage. 

 About 25 years ago both red and black cher- 

 ries were largely grown in these counties, 

 but the black knot destroyed so many or- 

 chards that growers became discouraged, 

 and during the last 20 years comparatively 

 few have been produced. Now that it is 

 recognized that there is no difficulty in keep- 

 ing down the black knot by thorough spray- 

 ings greater interest is being shown in the 

 crop and the area under cherry trees is be- 

 ing considerably extended. Speaking on 

 this subject to The Horticulturist lately, Mr. 

 W. H. Dempsey, of Trenton, said that some 

 growers in his section have lately set as 

 many as two or three acres to cherries. 



" The only drawlback I have found with 

 this crop," said Mr. Dempsey, " is the ex- 

 pense of gathering. Many of the cherries 

 grown in this vicinity last year were shipped 

 to Toronto, Peterboro and northern towns. 

 Girls, I believe, make the best pickers, be- 

 cause they can be obtained more cheaply and 

 are easier to get. I get my neighbors' girls 

 generally to, help m§ with the work. Al- 

 though they don't need the money, they are 

 generally willing to assist. 



ARE GIVDN LIGHT LADDERS. 



" To lighten the work for the girls I fur- 

 nish them with step-ladders that they can 

 handle easily. These ladders are made by 

 myself and are five feet high, enabling the 

 girls to reach fruit ten feet above the 

 ground, which is generally sufficient. The 

 girls pick apples in the same way. The only 



In fertilizing my cherry trees I first use 

 barnyard manure, later sowing red clover 

 and finally oats. About tlie first week in 

 June, when the oats are 6 to 8 inches high, 

 I turn in the pigs. Late in the fall this crop 

 is turned under. A disc harrow is used in 

 the spring. — (John D. Wigle, Kingston. 



drawback I find in using girls to pick the 

 fruit is that they are not strong enough to 

 carry the fruit around) and load it on the 

 wagons. Men are always required for this 

 work. I used to pay girls 75 cents to $1 a 

 day, but now the common wage is 75 cents 

 to $1.15. In picking apples I have had 

 gangs of girls that would average 20 bar- 

 rels for each girl a day. 



THE BEST TIME TO PICK. 



" I prefer to pick the cherries when the 

 fruit is cool, either in the morning when the 

 dew is off, or in the cool of the afternoon 

 and early evening. The trouble is we can 

 seldom do this, as it is generally necessary 

 to put in the full day at this work. By 

 picking in the cool of the day, the fruit 

 keeps much better. 



"Aside from the trouble in gathering, cher- 

 ries compare very favorably in point of 

 profit with any other of our fruit crops. 

 Early Richmond give me the best results. It 

 is the only variety I would recommend to be 

 planted around here. It is hardier than the 

 others, so the buds will stand more frost. 

 Some other varieties are sweeter and a trifle 

 larger, but they winter kill. 



" Cherries will be a light crop with me 

 this year. All the varieties had blossom 

 buds, but were destroyed more or less by the 

 severe winter. Two Russian varieties I 

 received as premiums from xhe Horticul- 

 tudst have bloomed more highly and were 

 leS^ injured by the winter than any other 

 trees in my orchard. I do not expect to se- 

 cure 10 per cent, of a crop. Most of the 

 other cherry orchards around here seem to 

 be affected about the same." 



I would rather take chances on raising 

 grapes for protit than any other kind of or- 

 chard fruit, as the crop is more certain and 

 the principal labor is performed at the sea- 

 sons of the year when one can best afford 

 the time to attend to the vineyard and the 

 crop. — (Aaron Cole, St. Catharines, Ont. 



295 



