THE 



VOL. IX.] 



JUNE, 1886. 



[No. 6. 



LARGE MONTMORETNOT OHERRT 



Why is it that our markets are so 

 poorly supplied with cherries at the 

 time when this fruit is in season. In 



any of our larger towns we will find 

 the market usually well furnished with 

 other fruits, berries of all kinds are to 

 be had in almost unlimited quantities, 

 and there is usually no lack of pears, 

 plums and grapes. But the demand 

 for good, ripe cherries is far in excess 

 of the supply. 



Probably one reason of this paucity 

 of cherries is to be found in the fact 

 that the attention of fruit growers has 

 not been turned to the production of 

 this fruit. Our horticultural papers 

 have not been filled with glowing 

 accounts of the " millions in it " that 

 have been given of many other fruits ; 

 and another reason may be found in the 

 fact that the growing of cherries for 

 market is surrounded with some difficul- 

 ties which require caretul attention to 

 overcome. Our fine sweet Bigarreau 

 and Heart cherries are very apt to rot 

 on the tree just as they are becoming 

 ri|)e enough to use, so that the cron is 

 lost, or else gathered and sent to market 

 in so unripe a condition that the fruit 

 does not meet with a read^ sale. And 



again the birds are very fond of cherries, 

 and sometimes help themselves so boun- 

 tifully as to leave but little to the owner. 

 But the difficulties in the way of grow- 

 ing cherries for market are not insuper- 

 able, and we believe there is a satisfac- 

 tory margin of profit to be realized by 

 the fruit grower who will bring good 

 judgment, and attention to bear upon 

 the business. 



We have in what is known as the 

 Duke and Morello class of cherries a 

 number of fine varieties which are 

 eminently suitable for planting in our 

 climate. The trees are hardy and 

 healthy, and seldom fail to bear an abun- 

 dant crop. The fruit is not apt to rot 

 on the tree and if properly gathered 

 and handled not apt to spoil after being 

 gathered. Very few persons gather 

 cherries in the proper manner. They 

 should always be gathered by seperating 

 the fruit stems from the tree, not by 

 seperating the stems from the fruit. If 

 gathered in this manner and sent to 

 market either, as we do strawberries, 

 in quart boxes, or in ten quart baskets, 

 they would not soon spoil after being 

 gathered. For all culinary purposes 

 and for canning and drying this class of 

 cherries is very highly esteemed, most 



