THE CHERRIES 



Commercially the Cherry is one of the least important 

 of the Stone Fruits, the product being of decidedly less 

 value than peaches or plums. There are, nevertheless, 

 enormous quantities of Cherries grown for home use and 

 in a few regions the fruit is grown for canning factories 

 or for market. 



The many varieties of cultivated Cherries are readily 

 classified into two great groups — the Sweet Cherries 

 and the Sour Cherries. The Sweet or Mazzard Cherries 

 are all derived from a tree native to Europe and Asia 

 called by botanists Prunus avium. The Sour or Morello 

 Cherries are all derived from another tree, also native to 

 Asia and perhaps to Europe, called by botanists Prunus 

 cerasus. Both of these trees have been in cultivation 

 for a long period and have run wild in many parts of the 

 United States. 



Sweet Cherries 



The Sweet or Mazzard Cherry tree grows erect with a 

 main central stem beside which the branches run in a 

 nearly vertical direction, giving the trees a pyramidal 

 appearance which is especially marked when they are 

 young. The wild seedlings are abundant in the Atlantic 

 states and are commonly called Mazzard Cherries. 

 These Mazzard seedlings are largely used as a stock on 

 which to graft the various sorts of both sweet and sour 

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