HORTICULTURE 233 



should they be utilized for this purpose. (U. S. Pom. R. 1894; 

 Ore. E. S. B. 61; U. S. Pom. B. 10; B. P. I. B. 133.) 



CHERRY. 



The cultivated kinds probably came from two species known 

 botanically as Prunus avium and Prunus cerasus, but during the cen- 

 turies that have elapsed while they have been under cultivation they 

 have been crossed and recrossea until it is impossible to separate the 

 varieties into their species. The cultivated sorts are divided for con- 

 venience into two classes : (a) Kinds having sweet juice ; including 

 what are known as Mazzard, Hearts, and Bazella cherries. These 

 varieties are generally tall and erect-growing trees. (6) Kinds hav- 

 ing sour or subacid juice, including what are known as Sour, Morello, 

 and Early Richmond cherries. These trees are usually low headed, 

 with spreading branches. Prunus mahaleb is a small, slender tree, 

 bearing small, dark red, austere fruit, and is a native of southern 

 Europe. It is used for stocks upon which cherries are propagated. 

 The wild American cherries include Prunus besseyii, Prunus demisa, 

 and a number of others. They are of little importance commercially, 

 although where found in large quantities they are used locally. 

 (U. S. E. S. B. 178.) 



Propagation. The common method of propagating the cherry 

 is by budding one year old seedlings. The two commercial stocks 

 most commonly used in propagating the cherry are the Mahaleb and 

 Mazzard. The Mahaleb (Prunus Mahaleb) is a native of southern 

 Europe. The seedlings are grown there in large quantities and are 

 imported in large numbers by our nurserymen. It is used exclusively 

 for budding and is of no value for root grafting. It is hardier than 

 the Mazzard, especially in a dry climate, although too tender for the 

 severely cold sections. It is best adapted to the sour varieties of 

 cherries. The Mazzard is a strong growing variety of the sweet-cherry 

 (Prunus Avium), and is a native of eastern Europe and western 

 Asia. It is used exclusively in the east and in the warmer sections 

 of the west as a stock for the sweet varieties. It is not sufficiently 

 hardy for the severely cold sections. This stock can be used for root 

 grafting but this method is little practiced and is used almost entirely 

 for budding purposes. 



The cherry may be top grafted the same as the apple or the 

 plum. It is very important that the work be performed very early 

 in the spring before the sap begins to flow and while the scions are 

 yet dormant. Unless the work is done at this time it is likely to result 

 in failure. Any grower who may have trees that seem to be perfectly 

 hardy in stock but tender in bud, can top graft with some hardy 

 variety that will change the top of the tree in time to a hardy, pro- 

 ductive sort. The Bessarabian, for example, is very tender in bud but 

 hardy in stock, and may be valuable for top grafting. Many of the 

 varieties that have been tested and found to be worthless could be 

 changed to valuable varieties by top-grafting. (la. E. S. B. 73.) 



Soil. Cherries will thrive on almost any well drained soil, but 

 they show a preference to a rather light gravelly or sandy loam. 

 In very rich, black soil, they tend to an overproduction of wood and 



