292 



CHERRY 



CHERRY 



39th and 44th degrees of latitude and the 68th and 86th 

 degrees of longitude, and to contiguous areas having 

 similar climatic conditions. Spontaneous forms of it 

 attain great size on the Chesapeake peninsula (Fig. 428). 

 The sour Cherry may be grown with profit between the 

 35th and 45th degrees of latitude and the 68th and 100th 

 degrees of longitude. 



The Mazzard is the best stock for both sweet and sour 

 Cherries in the east. The Mahaleb is more widely used 

 for the sour kinds, however, as it is easier to bud, and 

 it is free from leaf blight in the mirsery. The Mazzard 

 forms a better root system, stronger union, a longer 

 lived tree, and is sufficiently hardy. For the Plains 

 states the hardier Mahaleb stocks should be used. 



The Cherry likes an elevated, naturally light, dry, 

 loamy, retentive soil. The sour kinds need more mois- 

 ture, and will thrive in heavier land. A soil not natur- 

 ally dry may be corrected by under-draining, and on 

 light, dry knolls, the moisture capacity may be increased 

 by green manures and surface tillage. 



The sweet Cherries should be set 28 feet to 30 feet 

 apart each way; the sour kinds, from 16 feet to 18 feet. 

 The trees are generally set at two years from the bud. 



The sweet kinds are started with 3 to 5 main arms, 

 with no central leader, about 3% feet high, and the 

 branches are pruned to side buds for a few years to in- 

 duce a spreading, rather than a spire-like form. The 

 top of a sour Cherry is made like that of a peach tree. 



Plow the Cherry orchard lightly in the early spring, 

 and cultivate it every ten days, or after every rain, till 

 the middle of June or the first of July. Seed at the last 

 cultivation with a winter cover-crop. Stimulate the 

 trees with leguminous cover-crops when needed, but 

 the sweet Cherry is a gross feeder and a rapid grower, 

 and undue stimulation must be avoided. Keep the 

 orchard in sod and pasture it with sheep, along the 

 southern and western limits of profitable sweet Cherry 

 culture, and withhold nitrogenous manures. 



Nitrogen, potash, and phosphoric acid are the three 

 essential fertilizers. Nitrogen may be supplied in legu- 

 minous crops; potash as muriate, at 150 Ibs. to 300 Ibs. ; 

 and phosphoric acid in dissolved rock, at 300 Ibs. to 

 500 Ibs per acre. 



Cherries should be picked by the stems into small 

 baskets a few days before ripe. Sort out all stemless, 

 small and imperfect fruits. Face the perfect Cherries 

 in small, attractive boxes or baskets, and pack these in 

 small cases or crates. The choicer the fruit, the more 

 strikingly it should be displayed. Guard against break- 

 ing the fruit spurs in picking the sweet Cherries. Fruit 

 for canning is less laboriously packed, but may be as 

 carefully picked. 



The profits depend on the varieties and markets, but 



428. Old Sweet Cherry tree on the Chesapeake peninsula. 



largely on the personality of the grower, and on his skill 

 as a salesman. The range of profit for the sour Cherry 

 is from $30 to $100 per acre, and from $50 to $300 or 

 more for the sweet. 



The varieties adapt themselves to a wide range of 

 territory. An imperative need, however, is the develop- 

 ment of varieties with striking f eatui-es for local adapta- 

 tion. In the prairie states and the extreme north, the 

 hardier Amarelles and Morellos comprise the profitable 

 kinds. Formally the dark-colored, more acid Morellos 

 were most sought after; now the milder Amarelies are 

 demanded by both canners and consumers. In the fol- 

 lowing lists, the varieties are named more for the pur- 

 pose of illustrating the different types than for recom- 

 mending specific varieties. 



Amongst Amarelles, the Early Richmond and Mont- 

 morency are the leading types. 



Early Richmond (Fig. 429). Size medium; pit large; light 

 red; poor quality; vigorous growth. Ripens June 20 in New 

 York. 



Montmorency . Large, broad, flattened ; pit medium; light 

 red ; flesh nearly colorless ,- juice moderately sour ; vigorous 

 growth ; generally productive. Two weeks after Early Rich- 

 mond. Most valuable Amarelle for the east. 



Among the Morellos, Ostheim, Louis Philippe and 

 English Morello are important types. 



Ostheim (Fig. 430). Dark red; roundish; flesh dark, tender; 

 juice mild, dark; productive; hardy; growth slender. A week 

 after Early Richmond, smaller. Too early for the east. 



Louis Philippe. Size of Montmorency, and ripens with it; 

 round; acid; skin and flesh dark. Rather shy bearer in the 

 east, but valuable in the west. 



English Morello. Two weeks later than Montmorency; more 

 open, drooping habit: fruit medium, roundish; red-black; very 

 sour, slightly astringent ; flesh and juice dark, purplish 

 crimson. 



Among the sweet Cherries, the firm-fleshed red or 

 black Bigarreaus are the most profitable. The light 

 Bigarreaus and Hearts are more susceptible to the fruit- 

 rot, and sell less readily. Representative types of 

 Heart and light Bigarreaii Cherries are the following: 



Slack Tartarian The most valuable Heart Cherry. Produc- 

 tive ; vigorous, hardy, early ; large : dark red or black , flesh 

 dark purplish; very juicy, sweet. 



Napoleon (Fig. 431) .One of the best light Bigarreaus. Fruit 

 large; flesh hard, brittle, colorless; light lemon yellow, with 

 reddish cheek ; heavy bearer ; rots if not picked before ripe ; 

 splits in wet weather. A week before Black Tartarian. 



From the dark Bigarreaus the following are among the 

 best types: 



Robert's Red Heart. bright, dark red, with an under mot- 

 tling; as large as Napoleon; flesh pinkish; juice nearly color- 

 less, subacid ; heavy, regular bearer in Hudson river valley. 

 Ripens with Napoleon. 



Mezel. Large, heart-shaped obtuse, flattened at both sides; 

 uneven skin, dark red to black ; firm, but heart-like ; juicy ; 

 very sweet ; stem long and tortuous ; heavy bearer locally. 

 Ripens with Napoleon. 



Windsor. Large ; roundish-oblong; firm; juicy; mottled 

 dark red ; flesh pinkish white ; stem medium, set in slight, 

 broad depression ; heavy bearer, vigorous, upright. Ripens 

 two weeks after Napoleon. Very profitable. 



Dikeman. Large, heart-shaped, obtuse, flattened on one side; 

 black, with extremely firm, reddish flesh ; subacid, reddish 

 juice ; stem medium, in a slight, broad depression ; vigorous. 

 Ripens three weeks or more after Windsor. A variety of great 

 value. 



DISEASES AND INSECTS. The brown rot (Monilia 

 fructigena), which attacks the fruit at the ripening 

 period, and particularly during sultry weather, can be 

 largely avoided by picking the fruit a few days before 

 ripe. It may also fatally attack the flowers, 

 leaves and twigs. In localities where the 

 Cherry blooms, but does not fruit, the trees 

 -should |be sprayed with Bordeaux mixture be- 

 fore the buds unfold, again when the fruit is 

 set, and two or three times thereafter, with a 

 colorless fungicide. 



Black knot (Plowrightia morbosa, Sacc.). 

 See under Plum. 



Leaf blight (Cylindrosporium, Padi, Kurst). 

 See under Plum. 

 Powdery mildew (Podosphcera oxycanthce, 



