54 CALIFORNIA FRUITS: HOW TO GROW THEM 



est trees, and thus secure also that which is probably best adapted 

 to his locality. 



Apple and Pear Seedlings. For a small lot of apple and pear 

 trees the seed can be best sown in boxes. Select plump pips and 

 keep in moist sand, from the time they are taken from the fruit 

 until sowing. Fill the boxes, which should be three or four inches 

 deep, with good garden mold, cover the seed about half an inch, 

 and then cover the soil lightly with chaff or fine straw to prevent 

 the surface from drying out. Be sure that the boxes have cracks 

 or holes in the bottom for drainage, and the whole is kept moist, but 

 not wet. When the seedlings have grown to the height of three 

 inches they can be set out in the nursery rows as one would set out 

 cabbage plants if the work is carefully done and growing condi- 

 tions favorable. The easier and more common way is to "stratify" 

 or alternate layers of seed and damp sand in the storage boxes and 

 sow in nursery rows in the open ground when the soil is in good 

 condition (in February or March usually) and the seeds swollen or 

 showing sprouts. 



Cherry Seedlings. There are different ways of handling pits of 

 stone fruits to prepare them for setting out in the open ground, 

 which will be described. The cherry is grown from pits of two wild 

 varieties; one is commonly called the "Black Mazzard." It is the 

 common wild cherry of the East, and is the original type of what 

 are known as the Heart and Bigarreau types of cherries. The other 

 is the "Mahaleb," a European wild species, which is used in the 

 East, where it thrives better than the Mazzard, as it is hardier stock. 

 In this State the Mahaleb does not seem to have much dwarfing 

 effect, as trees on that stock in this State over twenty-five years old 

 are twenty-five inches in diameter of trunk. The Mahaleb, however, 

 ripens its wood earlier, and for this reason may be valuable in the 

 colder parts of the State. It is also freer from root trouble by ex- 

 tremes of wetness and drouth in the soil, and is largely used on low 

 lands. The Mazzard is, however, chiefly used in California. A way 

 of treating cherry stones is that given by W. W. Smith, a pioneer 

 cherry grower of Vacaville : 



The fruit of the Mazzard should be allowed to get perfectly ripe on the 

 tree, then gathered and let lie in a heap for three or four days, so that they 

 may be partially or wholly freed from the pulp by washing them in water. 

 They should then be spread out in the shade and stirred frequently for 

 about twenty-four hours. This will give the outside of the pit time to dry 

 sufficiently to prevent molding, while the kernel itself will remain fresh and 

 green. They should then be placed in moist (not wet) sand and kept so 

 until the rains set in in the fall, when they can be planted in drills, in good, 

 rich, mellow soil, prepared the previous spring and kept clean of weeds 

 through the summer, ready for the purpose. They should never be allowed 

 to get perfectly dry; and the reason for it is that we have but little or no 

 freezing and thawing weather in this country to cause the pits to open; but 

 if they are kept constantly moist it answers the same purpose as freezing. 

 The seeds of the Mahaleb cherry will sprout with less difficulty, but the 

 same rules for keeping the Mazzards will apply to them. 



Other stock for the cherry will be discussed in the chapter on 

 that fruit. 



