THE NURSERY LIST. 



159 



Cherries, in common with other stone fruits, grow readily 

 from root cuttings, in the same manner as blackberries. 

 They do better if started over a gentle heat. 



The Mazzard cherry is the stock upon which cherries are 

 nearly always worked. It is simply a hardy and vigorous 

 variety, with inferior fruit, of the common sweet cherry 

 (Prunus Aviuni). Seeds of this are readily procured in this 

 country. All varieties of cherries are worked readily upon 

 it. The Mahaleb cherry is used as a stock for nearly all va- 

 rieties when dwarf trees are desired. This is a distinct spe- 

 cies, Prunus Mahaleb. The seeds or stocks are usually im- 

 ported. This stock is adapted to heavy clay soils, while the 

 Mazzard is not. The Mahaleb is not generally used in this 

 country. 



Morello {Prunus Cerasus) stocks will no doubt prove to be 

 valuable in the northwest, where great hardiness is demand- 

 ed. Seedlings do not sprout or sucker badly, but the natural 

 suckers, which are sometimes used for stocks, are likely to 

 be more troublesome in this respect. If strong-growing tops 

 are worked on Morello stocks, however, there is usually little 

 annoyance from suckering. 



It is probable that some of the native American cherries 

 can be used as stocks. The common wild red, pin or bird 

 cherry (Prumis Pennsylvanica} has already been used to some 

 extent. The sweet and sour cherries unite readily with it, 

 and bear very early. It is yet to be determined how long 

 the trees will persist, but there are trees known which are 

 sixteen or eighteen years old, and which are still healthy and 

 vigorous. The dwarf or sand cherry (Prunus pumi la}, espec- 

 ially the western form of it, gives promise as a dwarf stock. 



Cherry stocks are worked both by budding and grafting. 

 Budding is the common method. The stocks should be fit 

 to work the season they are transplanted, or in the second 

 summer from seed. Such as are too small for working then 

 may be allowed to stand until the following year. 



In the west, where great hardiness is required, the varie- 

 ties are crown-grafted upon Mazzard stocks in winter. Year- 

 ling stocks are used, and the cions are from six to ten inches 

 long. When planted, only the top bud should be left above 

 ground. The cion strikes roots, and own-rooted trees are 

 obtained. 



The ornamental cherries are worked upon the same stocks 

 as the fruit^bearing sorts. Mazzard is commonly used for 

 all species. 



