180 FRUITS RETURN LIBERAL PROFITS 



The cherry is easily grown. It is attacked by few in- 

 sects. Rabbits seldom molest cherry trees. In preparing 

 the soil, I advise heavy manuring, deep plowing, with 

 thorough cultivation the year before planting. Use two- 

 year-old trees, well branched, and plant 18 feet apart, giv- 

 ing thorough cultivation for three years. 



After that, seed to clover and when your orchard comes 

 into bearing, mow all grass and weeds a couple of times 

 during the season. Leave the grass on the ground to 

 form a mulch. It will have a tendency to hold moisture, 

 and also helps to keep the ground loose. The less a 

 cherry orchard is plowed after it comes into bearing 

 the better, as the feeding roots are very near the surface. 

 Roots broken off are not quickly replaced, as the cherry 

 is one of the most backward of fruit trees in putting out 

 new growth where old growth has been broken off. 



Cherries can be grown wherever the apple succeeds — 

 north, east, south or west. There is no fear of over- 

 production, as canning houses stand ready to contract the 

 crop ahead at good prices, while private customers may 

 be secured by all growers who live near a city. 



Apples surpass other fruits in money-making, because 

 they are hardier and allow a longer time for handling. 

 An orchardist ought to consider apples the foundation of 

 his enterprise, but he should not neglect pears, plums, 

 cherries and berries. 



Spring planting is to be recommended in preference 

 to fall planting. Get the trees out just as soon as the 

 frosts seem to be at an end, placing them thirty feet apart 

 each way. This leaves a great deal of land that may be 

 used for raising vegetables and flowers. This constant 

 cultivation is good for fruit trees, which should have 

 mulching placed around them late in the summer. 



The trees should be mulched with straw, grass or 

 leafage of some description. This mulching should not 

 be crowded around the stem, its object being mainly to 



