THE CHERRY. 



The cherry, which for a time was a comparatively neglected fruit in Ontario, is 

 now being largely planted and better culture is being given it. As a result, this 

 delicious fruit is now being produced in fairly large quantities in certain sections, and 

 as the crop is more uncertain than that of any other large fruits, the prices obtained 

 for cherries are good. 



There are three well recognized groups into which the cultivated cherries are 

 divided, the Morello, or Sour cherries; the Bigarreau, Heart, or Sweet cherries, and 

 the Duke cherries, which are intermediate between the other two groups, the fruit 

 being usually subacid. The hardiest varieties are found in the Morello group, and for 

 this reason these Sour cherries have succeeded over a much larger part of Ontario 

 than the others. The eastern limit of the commercial culture of the Sour cherries is 

 about the city of Kingston, but northeast of that district along the St. Lawrence 

 River, especially within twenty or thirty miles of the water, they succeed admirably. 

 They are not grown to any extent north of latitude 45 degrees, as it has been found 

 that the dry cold winters kill the fruit buds, and it is only rarely that a crop is 

 produced. Near the northern limit of the successful culture of Sour cherries, it has 

 been found that large bodies of water have a beneficial influence in lessening the winter 

 injury. 



The Sweet and Duke cherries have a much narrower range than the Sour cherries. 

 While they will succeed along Lake Ontario east of Toronto, where the influence of the 

 water moderates the climate, the crops are too uncertain for their commercial culture, 

 hence this is confined mainly to the south-western parts of the Province. 



More care is required in 'Choosing a site for cherries than for apples. A warm 

 sandy loam or gravelly well-drained soil is to be preferred, and while the tree may 

 succeed for a time on poorly drained soil, they will not reach a great age, and are not 

 likely to prove profitable. A site should, if possible, be chosen where there is the least 

 danger from spring and summer frosts, as cherry blossoms are tender. 



The preparation of the land for apple trees and directions for planting of the same 

 may be followed for the cherry, but even more care should be taken in planting, as 

 cherries are much harder to transplant than apples. For this reason, one or two year 

 old trees should be used, as the loss fromii planting older trees is liable to be great. 



As the trees of the Morello cherries do not reach a great size, they may be planted 

 closer than the others; from eighteen to twenty feet apart being sufficient; while for 

 the Sweet cherries, twenty-five feet is not too much. The Duke cherries, which do not 

 grow quite so large as the Sweet, may be planted about twenty feet apart. 



The pruning to shape the cherry tree is much the same as for the apple, but after 

 the tree becomes well shaped, the less pruning done the better. Often serious injury 

 occurs when cherry trees are severely pruned. Gum oozing from the tree is an indica- 

 tion of such injury. 



Thorough cultivation is as necessary for cherries as for apples, and cover crops are, 

 if anything, more necessary. 



VARIETIES RECOMMENDED. 



GENERAL LIST APPROVED BY THE BOARD or CONTROL. 



Hardy varieties suitable for any portion of the Province bounded by Lakes Ontario^ 

 Erie, Huron and the Georgian Bay: Orel, Richmond, Montmorency, Russian 207. For 

 southern sections, see district lists. 



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