AND HIS PLANT SCHOOL 159 



been shown by the results of work already accomplished. 

 There are at present nearly a thousand varieties of cher- 

 ries in the plant school. There is one tree with over two 

 hundred varieties grafted upon it. In the bearing season 

 some will be ripe while others are yet forming, and there 

 are all gradations between these extremes. Some cherries 

 are small but exceedingly sweet, and some are very sour. 

 Some have the flavor of grapes, others taste like the apple, 

 and many are far better than the older kinds. There are 

 also peculiar shapes one is long and pointed, another ap- 

 ple-shaped, some look like small plums. 



Two of the new cherries are still earlier than the "Bur- 

 bank/' but many ripen very late. Some are exceedingly 

 productive and give promise of being the best of shipping 

 and canning cherries. There are cherries in training that 

 have never failed to bear fruit, and have never been known 

 to crack even after a hard rain. 



The instructor in the plant school says: "Tell the chil- 

 dren we are going to get them some better and larger and 

 sweeter cherries than any they have ever yet seen, but 

 this will take a long time and a great deal of work; still we 

 will keep trying until we succeed." 



Just think of the time when we shall have cherries as 

 large as big plums; so large that we shall cut them in two 

 to can them, as we do peaches. And then we shall also have 

 many different kinds. Some will ripen early and others 

 very late, and some will grow and bear in a cold climate. 



