THE CHERRY IN NORTH AMERICA 



PREPARED BY THE COMMITTEE ON CHERRIES APPOINTED 

 BY THE AMERICAN POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY 



COMMITTEE W. T. MACOUN (Chairman), E. E. LITTLE, T. A. FARRAND 



The Cherry is the most neglected of all the important fruits which suc- 

 ceed in the United States and Canada ; among the principal causes of neg- 

 lect are the tenderness of the fruit making it difficult to market or trans- 

 port long distances ; the depredations of birds which devour so much 

 of the fruit that there is little left for marketing unless the orchards are 

 large ; the diseases and insect pests which owing to the fact that there 

 are comparatively few large commercial orchards, have not received the 

 same attention as those affecting other fruits, such as the apple, pear, plum 

 and peach. The cherry is a delicious and refreshing fruit and should be 

 much more widely planted than it is at present. It is always in demand and 

 the market is rarely glutted. There is no doubt that if cherries were sold 

 at reasonable prices they would be as popular to eat out of hand as they are 

 in Europe, where the people use them very freely in the fresh condition. 

 Canned and preserved cherries in most towns and cities are considered a 

 great treat at the present time, owing to the prohibitive prices which have 

 to be paid for the fruit. As there have been comparatively few new varie- 

 ties of cherries of merit originated during recent years, it was thought best 

 by this committee to devote the space allotted to cherries to a general dis- 

 cussion and fairly exhaustive treatment of this fruit, so that when there is a 

 revival of interest in cherry culture, as is sure to take place at no distant 

 date, there will be in this report a mass of useful information for the intend- 

 ing planter. 



This report has been divided into three parts, each of which has been 

 prepared by a member of this Committee. 



Part I, by T. A. Farrand, Director, South Haven Fruit Station, 

 Michigan. This includes recommendations for propagating the cherry ; for 

 locating and planting the orchard ; for pruning, cultivation, cover crops, 

 fertilizing ; for the prevention and destruction of injurious insects and 

 diseases. There is also a descriptive list of the most popular varieties of 

 Bigarreau and Duke cherries, and of a few new varieties. Harvesting, 

 packing and marketing the fruit are also dealt with in Part I. 



Part II, by E. E. Little, Assistant in Horticulture at the Iowa Experi- 

 ment Station, Ames, la. This treats of the introduction and development. 

 of the sour cherries in America, especial attention being drawn to the Rus- 



