352 



THE CHERRY. 



The cultivation of dwarf cherries would greatly facilitate 

 the use of net screens for covering entire orchards, as some- 

 times practiced in Holland and England. The boundary 

 fence is made of wire (or wood) lattice, so as to exclude 

 small birds. At regular distances, through the enclosed 

 area, are inserted into the earth, wooden or tile sockets for 

 the reception of poles or props to support the net. These 

 poles have a small circular board each nailed on their tops, 

 to prevent injury to the netting. The boundary fence is 

 supplied with hooks, to which the net is readily attached. 

 When the cherries begin to ripen, it is elevated on several 

 of the poles, each carried, by a man, and spread over the 

 garden, the rest of the poles being easily inserted in their 

 sockets afterwards. All birds are thus completely excluded. 

 During rain or dewy evenings, the net is stretched to its ut- 

 most extent, as indicated by the dotted lines- in the annexed 

 figure : 



Fig. 266. 



Birds excluded from miniature cherry orchard by net screen. 



In dry weather, it is slackened, and forms a festooned vault 

 over the whole cherry garden. Its durability is increased 

 by soaking it in tan once a year.* Ten square rods of 

 ground, comprised within a circle of fifty-nine feet in diam- 

 eter, would contain forty dwarf cherry "trees at eight feet 

 distance, or ninety trees at five feet distance. 



THE DISEASES AND ENEMIES, 



To which the cherry is liable at the North, are few arid not 

 formidable. After the young trees are procured, they are 

 consequently of remarkably safe and easy cultivation. 



There are, however, some varieties which are liable to 

 black excrescences on the branches, which, gradually increas- 

 ing and extending, destroy the tree. The only means of 

 arresting their progress, and which, when vigorously and 



* London's Sub. Hort. 



