CHERRY. 207 



Cherry, continued, 

 than upon the Mahaleb root. The Mahaleb is naturally 

 a smaller tree than the Mazzard, however. It is said 

 that the Mahaleb is better adapted to heavy^ clay soils 

 than the Mazzard, but in practice it is used indiscrimi- 

 nately for all soils and nearly all varieties. 



Morello {Prunus Cerasus) stocks will.no doubt prove to 

 be valuable in the northwest, where great hardiness is de- 

 manded. Seedlings do not sprout or sucker badly, but 

 the natural suckers, which are sometimes used for stocks, 

 are likely to be more troublesome in this respect. If 

 strong-growing tops are worked on Morello stocks, how- 

 ever, there is usually little annoyance from suckering. 

 Mahaleb stocks are generally used for the Morello 

 cherries. 



It is probable that some of the native American cher- 

 ries can be used as stocks. The common wild red, pin, 

 pigeon or bird cherry {Prunus Pennsylvanica) has al- 

 ready been used to some extent. The sweet and sour 

 cherries unite readily with it, and bear very early. It is 

 yet to be determined how long the trees will persist, but 

 there are trees known which are sixteen or eighteen years 

 old, and which are still healthy and vigorous. It is con- 

 sidered to be a very promising stock for the cold prairie 

 states. The dwarf or sand cherries {Prunus pumila and 

 P. Besseyi) give proniise as dwarf stocks. 



Cherry stocks are worked both by budding and graft- 

 ing. Budding is the common method. The stocks 

 should be fit to work the season they are transplanted, 

 or in the second summer from seed. Such as are too 

 small for working then may be allowed to stand until 

 the following year ; or if the number is small, the poor 

 ones are rooted out. 



In the west, where great hardiness is required, the varie- 

 ties are crown-grafted upon Mazzard stocks in winter. 

 Yearling stocks are used, and the cions are from 6 to 10 

 inches long. When planted, only the top bud should be 

 left above ground. The cion strikes roots, and own- 

 rooted trees are obtained. 



The ornamental cherries are worked upon the same 

 stocks as the fruit-bearing sorts. Mahaleb and Mazzard 

 are commonly used for all species, the latter for weeping 

 forms which need to be worked high. 



Cherry trees can be top-grafted as readily as apple or 

 pear trees, and the same methods are employed. They 

 are usually grafted very early in the spring. The chief 



