STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 67 



variety of exposures without injury." While Mr. Cole, in the 

 American Fruit Book, says: "The cherry is rather delicate." 

 But this slight diflFerence of opinion is not essential in deciding 

 whether the cherry is or is not adapted to the climate of our State. 

 We know it formerly flourished and bore abundant fruit, and with- 

 in late years it has been found that several varieties of the Heart 

 cherries have proved hardy and productive of remarkable crops of 

 fruit, and there is good reason to hope that in the vicissitudes of 

 nature, under which other fruits and vegetables have their seasons 

 of apparent abatement of health and vigor, from which they after- 

 wards recover and regain their former condition, the cherry tree 

 may recover in time from the blight which has so long continued 

 to affect it. 



Soil and Situation. 



There is but one universal maxim for the location of the cherry- 

 tree, and that is, "a dry Soil for the cherry." It .will, indeed, 

 thrive in a variety of soils ; yet, as one author observes, "a good 

 sandy or gravelly loam is its favorite place. It will grow in much 

 thinner and dryer soils than most other fruit trees, but to obtain 

 the finest fruit, a deep and mellow soil of good quality is desirable. 

 When it is forced to grow in wet places, or where the roots are 

 constantly damp, it soon decays and is very short lived." Cole 

 says : "A soil where Indian corn is not very liable to suffer from 

 drought or wet, is best for the cherry. It bears more moisture 

 than the peach or grape, and requires less than the apple, pear or 

 currant." 



Under this topic, I quote a brief extract from a paper on the 

 Apple, read before the meeting of the Potomac Fruit Growers' 

 Association, at Washington, D. C, in November last, reported for 

 the Fruit Recorder, which seems especially applicable to the mat- 

 ter of the location of the cherry-tree : 



" Where there is too much moisture, the plants become succu- 

 lent, producing a dropsical condition, which is a disease. The 

 fruit of trees in this condition will drop off prematurely, and that 

 which ripens will be tasteless and inferior. When a soil or climate 

 is so arid that it is uncongenial to fruitage, we find the growth of 

 the fruit arrested and its highest qualities undeveloped, as is the 

 case in a very dry season. Too much moisture at the time of 

 blossoming, destroys the fruit. We must not overlook the un- 

 healthy efiects of too much moisture in the earth. Those plants 



