PEACHES AND CHERRIES. 63 



withstand a great degree of cold without injury. One year old 

 trees are the best to plant, and they should be cut back one 

 half or more, and so every year the new wood should be 

 shortened in. The tree so treated becomes more compact and 

 symmetrical, and is less liable to be broken down by the winds, 

 ice and snows of winter. They should, when planted in an 

 orchard, be set from ten to twelve feet apart each way. Among 

 the best sorts are the Early and Late Crawford, Early York, 

 Cooledge's Favorite, Grosse Mignonne, Hale's Early and Fos- 

 ter's Seedling. Peaches should always be allowed to ripen on 

 the tree. They are never better than when they are permitted 

 to remain until a slight jar will bring them down — just mellow 

 enough for eating — though it will not do to let them ripen 

 so much when they are to be transported long distances to 

 market. 



The cherry next claims our attention, though it does not hold 

 a high rank in this part of the country for market purposes. 

 In our boyhood days the trees gave their fruit in great abun- 

 dance, for we recollect we made good wages picking them at 

 half a dollar a bushel. A few years ago a severe drouth 

 affected the trees unfavorably, which, added to the black wart 

 that made its appearance in great numbers in some localities, 

 and the tendency to disease, liave all combined to bring the 

 raising of tliis fruit into disrepute. Formerly, cherries sold for 

 three or four dollars a bushel, while two years ago we sold the 

 Black Tartarian for twelve dollars a bushel. The trees of some 

 varieties have behaved badly, bursting tlie bark and turning 

 black, while some of the branches would die. 



We have in mind a cherry orchard of a hundred trees, more 

 than half of which were either killed outriglit, or very much 

 injured, by excessive manuring, and the remainder were only 

 saved by sowing the land to grass. One of the healthiest and 

 very best cherry orchards we know has been in grass for the last 

 twelve years, and yet has given the very best results. The land 

 is strong and good, but not wet. It may be set down as a sure 

 thing tliat high manuring will destroy the ifiner kinds of clierry 

 trees, by causing them to make too great growth. Another 

 drawback to the cultivation of the cherry is the curculio, that 

 destroys a great part of the fruit. Tliough this fruit, like the 

 plum, is not considered so healthful as some others, yet we hope 



