65 STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



is now divided into only two distinct classes. The first class com- 

 prises the Hearts and Bio;arreaus, and the second the Dukes and 

 Morellos. Mr. John J. Thomas, in his recent admirable revision 

 of his American Fruit GuUurisl, says of these two classes : " The 

 first is characterized usually by the tall, upright growth and pyra- 

 midal form of the tree, by the large, vigorous and straight young 

 branches, and by a sweet or bitter, but not a sour taste. The 

 second class, or round fruited, has small, irregular and thickly 

 growing branches, and a decidedly acid fruit." 



Cltmatology of the Cherry. 



Although some varieties of the cherry are rather delicate in con- 

 stitution, and do not succeed well in the extreme northern parts of 

 our countrj', it is generally well adapted to the temperature of the 

 Northern States, and may be successfully propagated anywhere 

 north of the latitude of Virginia. Cole says: "They do best in 

 elevated, tolerably cool locations, as great heat is injurious," and 

 that they fail in the Southern States. 



Thomas says: "At the South and West, the finer varieties of 

 the Heart and Bigarreau cherries do not flourish. This is sup- 

 posed to be caused by the hot sun upon the bark of the trunk, and 

 bj' rapid growth, preventing a sufEcient hardening of the bark." 

 On the latter point. Cole remarks: "The rapid growth of the 

 cherry tree renders it liable to injury, as the 3'oung wood is ten- 

 der, and the bursting of vessels from the extremes of heat and cold 

 in low, warm locations, causes the gum to ooze out, which is very 

 injurious or destructive." Downing says: " We have seen this 

 tree, when forced into too luxuriant a growth in our rich western 

 soils, become so gross in its wood as to bear little or no fruit, and 

 split open in its trunk and soon perish." 



Tlie above quotations from these high authorities are given for 

 the purpose of showing that the variations of climate in this coun- 

 try have a more marked effect on cherry culture than upon that of 

 many others of our standard fruits, and that the conditions of suc- 

 cess in this branch of fruit cultivation are fixed by almost absolute 

 limitations. 



Regarding the natural constitution of the cherry tree, I observe 

 a difference of opinion among those writers whose works I have 

 consulted. Thomas says : " The cherry, being a very hardy tree, 

 will thrive in the Northern States in nearly all good soils." 

 Downing remarks : " It is a very hardy tree, and will bear a great 



