82 THE DlFFEREJsT KINDS OF FRUITS. 



lack the necessary quality of hardiness, and they cannot be relied 

 on, except in certain favored localities. 



Many foreign sorts have also been introduced, some of thera of 

 very great excellence ; but' with most of these the result has been 

 the same — the changeableness and severity of our climate being- 

 too great for them. So that it is now considered unsafe to plant 

 any other than those that have been proven to be of the hardiest 

 sorts. Quality has come to be regarded as a secondary consider- 

 ation in planting a cherry orchard for profit. Yet for family use, 

 and for amateur planting, these finer sorts should not be entirely 

 discarded. Some of those possessing a high excellence as table 

 cherries are sufficiently hardy, in sheltered situations, to give fair 

 results ; but great care should be observe.! in their selection. 



The Early Richmond (also known as Kentish and Early May) 

 and the Common, English, and Plumstone Morellos, are regarded 

 as the most hardy of all the cherry family, and most at home in 

 our climates. These usually bear good crops. North as well as 

 South ; and, besides being hardy in wood, are less liable to the 

 depredations of insect enemies. These four varieties will give a 

 succession of several weeks. For table use these sorts are not so 

 desirable as some of the sweeter sorts, but for canning and for 

 cooking are regarded as far preferable. 



The mode of working finer sorts upon the Common Morello, by 

 top-grafting, has been introduced and practiced, to a considerable 

 extent, with good success ; but only the slow-growing kinds should 

 be thus used. The Early Richmond has been thus grafted, and is 

 said .to produce fuller crops than on its own roots — why, it might 

 be hard to determine, as it is considered about equal in hardiness 

 with the Morello. 



The chief objection to this mode of propagation lies in the fact 

 that the Morello is liable to sucker from the roots, and in this 

 respect it is not desirable as a stock. 



For orchard culture the cherry may be planted twenty feet apart ; 

 but in garden plats, as good a way as any is to set them along 

 the fence row. It is now conceded that, after a few years of good 

 culture, the cherry will bear better crops when allowed to grow in 

 a grass sod than with cultivation — it being requisite that the 

 aeeded fertilizers shall be supplied and that the soil be well 

 drained. 



