328 FRUIT GROWING 



several varieties of which mature quite early in the season. (2) 

 Sour cherries, which usually mature later in the season. Cherries 

 of the first group are most commonly found in the markets, and 

 much of the crop is produced on the Pacific coast. Sour cherries 

 are more commonly grown in the East for canning and for pies. 



The soil for cherries should be well drained and may vary from 

 light loam to medium loam. The crop thrives best where the 

 weather is moist up to picking time. As the trees do not always 

 transplant well, it is sometimes the practice, particularly with the 

 sweet varieties, to start the young trees from seed in the orchard 

 and bud them as soon as they are large enough. Sour varieties 

 are usually propagated by budding the stocks in nursery rows. 



The most popular sweet varieties of cherries are Windsor and 

 Black Tartarian. Among the sour cherries which are much grown 

 are Early Richmond, English Morello and Montmorency. 



Citrus fruits include the orange, the lemon and the pomelo or 

 "grape fruit." These must be grown in climates where there is 

 no serious danger of frost. The trees are evergreen. They are 

 propagated by budding the young seedling stocks in nursery rows. 

 In California lemons and oranges are much grown by aid of 

 irrigation. In Florida rainfall is usually depended upon for the 

 water supply. 



Oranges are of two main types seed-bearing and seedless. 

 Those having no seeds are of most recent origin and are called 

 navel oranges. They bring higher prices in the markets than the 

 older varieties. Some of the seeded varieties are more hardy and 

 may be grown farther north in the Florida districts. 



Harvesting. When the fruit is to be used immediately poor 

 methods of harvesting are not so objectionable as when the 

 fruit is to be kept for some time, or when it is to be offered for sale 

 in the markets. Fruit to be kept should be handled carefully. 

 Do not shake fruit from the trees, but pick it by hand. Ladders 

 may be used in picking such fruits as apples and pears. Suitable 

 picking baskets will prevent any mashing, crushing, or bruising 

 of the fruit, and when properly handled it will keep much longer. 

 Peaches may be picked chiefly from the ground if the trees are 

 headed low. If fruit is to be shipped some distance it must be 

 picked after it has reached full growth and begins to show some 

 signs of ripening, but the flavor is not so good as when it is allowed 

 to more completely ripen upon the trees. This is true of peaches, 

 plums, and apples; but pears should always be taken from the 



