THE ^^ 



Horticulturist 



/IN /l\ 



CHERRIES IN 1900. 



fHE first of the tree fruits to ripen is 

 the cherr}', and its comparatively 

 small size renders its harvesting- 

 ^pj quite a serious consideration, es- 

 pecially if the acreag-e is large. A solid block 

 of cherry trees planted for profit is not often 

 seen for this very reason, but where plenty 

 of pickers are obtainable in cherry season, 

 there is no reason why such a block should 

 not be planted. 



Fig. 1858 shows a view in the experi- 

 mental plot at Maplehurst five years planted. 

 These trees are on dry sandy loam, have 

 been given clean cultivation and fertilized 

 with wood ashes. The result of this treat- 

 ment proves the absurdity of the common 

 notion that the proper place for cherry trees 

 is the fence row, and that cultivation is un- 

 necessary. They have grown with double 

 the vigor of trees not cultivated, many of the 

 sweet cherry class being- over 14 feet in 

 height and 4 inches in diameter of trunk ; 

 also at this early age many of them are well 

 laden with fruit. One of the Early Purple 

 trees, a variety not usually very productive, 

 has so responded to our treatment that is has 

 been fully loaded now for two yeais in suc- 



cession, but, ripening- early in June, it is 

 usually harvested by birds and boys. 



The total number of varieties under test at 

 Maplehurst is 62, and the different habits of 

 growth are an interesting^ study. For 

 example, Fig. 1866 shows a Morello tree 

 a good type of the habit also of the Kent- 

 ish cherries, for these differ from each 

 other more in fruit than in tree ; this 

 class of trees forms a round head with 

 slender branches and never attains much 

 height. These five-year-old trees are only 

 about 9 feet in heig-ht and 3 inches in 

 diameter of trunk. The Montmorency is 

 a g-reat favorite as a market cherry in 

 New York State, and certainly is a produc- 

 tive kind of pie cherry, far less subject to 

 Curculio than the old common red. It ripens 

 about the ist of July, while the Early 

 Richmond can be used for pies about the 

 middle of June. For pies, the Early Rich- 

 mond, Montmorency and Wrag-g- or English 

 Mprello, would cover the season completely. 

 Fig. 1859 and i860 shows the bearing 

 habit of the Empress Eugenie and of the May 

 Duke, two varieties of Dukes which so 

 nearly resemble each other that they are not 



