Cjihile in Gemany last summer the writer because acquainted with Eduard Reuss, 



a fruit instructor in one of the Winter Schools. Here is a liberal translation of 



an article he has vn:'itten.) 



ClITIVATIOII OF CHERRIES III GZRIAKY 



The cultivation of sweet cherries along the Rhine dates back to the Middle Ages. 

 At the present time they are of considerable economic importance. In some districts 

 25 tons or more are delivered at the collecting points every day during the 

 harvest season. The harvest lasts about six weeks and in some areas brings in more 

 money than all other crops taken together. 



Along both banks of the Rhine in the Newdeder Becken district, pumice soil 

 prevails, and is as much as 13 feet deep. The surface layer consists of sandy clay 

 often two feet deep. Pumice soils may be interrupted by harder layers which cannot 

 be penetrated by roots. The O&tural vramth of a deep loess soil (Lossboden) ^ 

 provides ideal growing conditions for sweet cherries. In the St. Goar district 

 cherries are planted in a soil derived from shale. Here cherry trees fare very well 

 in dry seasons because the subsoil is well supplied with water. The trees are 

 planted close together foming a dense grovrth, an Eldorado for all sorts of pests. 



The Rhine Valley, with its smaller side-valleys, has the best climate for sweet 

 cherries. Here the annual rainfall amounts to about 23 inches. Spring frosts occur 

 very seldom. Poor harvests are a rarity. 



In every village cherries are collected at designated places. This arrange- 

 ment is effective since large quantities could not be sold if direct contact between 

 seller and buyer were necessary. Besides the daily local sales, buyers from the 

 whole Federal Republic come here and transport the fruit by trucks to their 

 destination. 



In the Middle Rhdne Valley there are about 10 times as many sweet as sour 

 cherries. Trees of the latter are developed ;vith short trunks, while the former 

 are long. And the method of starting trees differs from that of other districts, 

 where nursery trees are planted. But here wild cherry trees are planted and later 

 budded on the spot. The latter method has certain advantages. A nursery tree 

 planted on a gravelly soil comes into bearing early, makes poor growth and is 

 short-lived, v;hile in a deep loess soil nursery trees develop very well. Budding 

 of trees is done by experts who do 300 to UOO trees pe r day, mth a high degree of 

 success. But the grcvrbh is not always ideal and the shape of the crown may be 

 like that of a poplar, 



A species of maggot (Rhagoletis cerasi) is troublesome in certain years but 

 it attacks only the later ripening varieties. This mischief may be avoided by 

 gro\iring only those varieties which ripen early. Several remedial measures have 

 been used, but in vain. But if conditions become much vjorse, steps must be taken 

 to prevent the ravages. 



[Trees are protected from attack by another insect by the use of "glue rings." 

 In other districts vrhere this pest is more prevalent, dinitro-ortho-kresol is 

 employed with great success. The whole planting must be treated. There are 

 machines, drawn by horses, for this purpose. 

 In older plantations the soil shows great "fatigue." The trees fail to make 

 growth, the twigs are thin, the tips dry up, sap exudes and later, the tree dies. 



