THE SAND CHERRY. 67 



seems quite probable that where the rainfall is light this plant will 

 do well on rich soil, but where the precipitation is abundant it is 

 best adapted to sandy or gravelly land. Thus it fruits abundantly 

 on the sandy land of Northern Minnesota and on the dry, rich land 

 of the Dakotas. See Fig. 46. 



Description. Some plants will reach a heighth of four feet 

 and spread five feet on the ground, while others will scarce attain 

 to half that size. The fruit resembles the cultivated cherry, but 

 varies considerably in form, size and color on different plants. It 

 is generally of a reddish almost black color when ripe. The ripe 

 fruit varies from the size of a large green pea to five-eighths of an 

 inch in diameter. In some the pit is small, while in others it is 

 very large. The quality is generally too astringent to be relished 

 uncooked, but this quality varies greatly in the different plants, 

 some being fairly palatable. When cooked its astringency disap- 

 pears and it makes a most excellent sauce. Where it grows abund- 

 antly it is used for sauce and for a sort of wine, which is said to be 

 very palatable. It is not only a productive fruit plant, but a clean, 

 strong growing shrub, and well adapted to severe locations on the 

 lawn. The fruit ripens in the latter part of July and first of 

 August. It seems to be much more like a plum than a cherry, and 

 perhaps the name sand plum would be more appropriate for it. 



Propagation. It grows freely from seed, which should be 

 sown as soon as ripe and not be allowed to get dry. Seedlings 

 vary much, and selected plants should be grown in other ways. 

 They fruit in about three years from seed. In many sections the 

 wild plants may be dug and transplanted to the garden. Plants 

 may be increased by layers, suckers and from root cuttings, and by 

 budding and grafting on the sand cherry or the native plum. The 

 easiest way to, increase them is by cutting the roots around the 

 plants but eight inches away from the main stem sometime when 

 the plant is dormant, and all the cut surfaces will sprout and form 

 new plants. If the roots are cut into pieces about six inches long, 

 and these treated like willow cuttings they will grow nearly as 

 readily. When budded on the plum peculiar looking, interesting 

 trees are formed, which are quite fruitful. The plum may also be 

 worked on the sand cherry and it forms a good union, but the roots 

 are so very flexible that the trees are liable to blow over unless the 

 union is set very deep. The common cherry does not take freely 

 on it. At present only seedlings are offered by nurserymen, there 

 having been no named kinds introduced. 



A form of this called the Dwarf Rocky Mountain cherry has 

 recently been sent out from Colorado, but has not been sufficiently 

 tried to warrant conclusions as to its value here. It is, however, 

 extremely doubtful if it is any better than the best of our native 

 kinds. The Utah hybrid cherry somewhat resembles this but has 

 a more erect habit. A quite limited experience seems to show it is 

 much inferior to our best native kinds. 



