2(30 CALIFORNIA FRUITS: HOW TO GROW THEM 



will reach the market alongside of better later sorts from earlier 

 districts. The place for the cherry in the latter districts is on 

 the most proper soil, according to the requirements which have 

 been laid down, avoiding, however, so far as possible, wind-swept 

 spots, and seeking amelioration of direct ocean influences by ele- 

 vation or intervention of hills and windbreaks. 



PROPAGATION AND PLANTING THE CHERRY 



In the chapter on propagation is given a successful method of 

 growing cherry seedlings. California cherry trees are almost ex- 

 clusively propagated by budding on seedlings of the Black Maz- 

 zard. The Mahaleb root is more hardy than the Mazzard and 

 is less subject to injury by soil saturation during the winter sea- 

 son. It is also more hardy against injury by summer drouth on 

 shallow soils, which is one of the causes of die-back of the cherry 

 tree in some parts of the State. While there may be particular 

 places in which the Mahaleb is the better root, the conclusions of 

 fifty years' experience in California cherry growing, which approve 

 the Mazzard, are on the whole trustworthy. The Mazzard is a 

 better grower and, where moisture conditions are fairly good, 

 leaves little to be desired. The Mazzard, however, though credited 

 with a dwarfing influence, does make a good sized tree under our 

 conditions. Recently the Morello or sour cherry seedling, has 

 found favor with some growers on the Sacramento River, although 

 it is inhospitable to the buds of some varieties, like the Early 

 Purple Greigne and Royal Ann, and double working has to be 

 resorted to, which is expensive, both in outlay and time. The 

 Black Tartarian takes well on the Morello and other varieties can 

 be budded upon the Tartarian top growth. 



'The planting of the cherry is covered by the general consid- 

 erations already given for the planting of orchards. The distance 

 which cherries should be set apart is a disputed point among 

 planters. When planted twenty feet apart the trees have inter- 

 laced their branches when sixteen years old, and the spaces between 

 the rows have been covered in like colonnades. In the Haywards 

 region the branches of twelve-year-old trees set twenty-eight 

 feet apart have nearly reached each other, though continually cut 

 back. Much depends in the matter of distance upon the manner 

 of handling the trees. The trees can be grown much nearer 

 together by continuous pruning than where the usual way of 

 cutting back for the first few years and letting the tree take its 

 natural growth after that, is followed. James E. Gedney, of Mesa 

 Grande, San Diego County, practises close planting and cutting 

 back which may work better on his upland than on deeper, moister 

 soils. He says : 



