CULTURAL METHODS IN GROWING THE CHERRY 1139 



The stock on which the tree is budded may or may not be 

 essential. On my own land a Montmorency orchard that I know 

 to be budded entirely on mahaleb stock is my best orchard. 

 In planting on a light soil, however, general experience, I believe, 

 goes to show that trees budded on nm,//ard seedlings do better, 

 and on that possibility under most circumstances I should advise 

 trees on mazzard if one can obtain them and wishes to pay the 

 additional cost. 



I have planted most of my Montmorency trees 14 feet apart 

 in each direction too close of course for the best orchard 

 when 20 or 25 years old ; but with 22*2 trees to the acre as against 

 less than half that number if planted 20 by 20 feet. Planted 

 in this manner a five-acre orchard will be worth many more 

 thousands of dollars to the owner from the dozen or more crops 

 it will yield before it need be opened up. When the proper 

 time comes, by removing alternate, diagonal rows, the trees will 

 be about 20 by 20 feet apart. In the meantime it has not cost 

 any more to cultivate an acre of land having 222 trees than 

 one having only 109 trees. 



ESSENTIALS OF CULTURE 



Drainage 



In order to grow cherry trees, the land must not be wet; they 

 cannot possibly live in wet land. If underdraining is necessary, 

 the drains must be kept working; if they become stopped, they 

 should be repaired at once. 



Spraying 



During most years the spraying of sour cherries is labor and 

 material thrown away, but let me urge with all the emphasis 

 at my command that the grower keep right on throwing it away; 

 for about once in so many years, if spraying has not been done 

 he will be the sorriest man in town, and will say all manner of 

 uncomplimentary things about himself. I have usually found 

 one thorough bordeaux spraying sufficient for Montmorency if 

 it is applied when the fruit is about half grown, although I have 

 sprayed when the cherries begin to show decided color, but pre- 

 fer to do the work much earlier. If a second spray is given, 

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