CHERRY 257 



Planting. — Many conditions enter into the planting of the 

 cherry which determines the distance of the trees. The soil, 

 the climate and the rainfall are the most influential factors 

 in deciding this point. The habit of growth of the tree also 

 regulates the distance. The sweet cherry, which is a vigorous 

 grower, should be planted from 30 to 40 feet apart, while the 

 sour cherry, which is not such a vigorous grower, can be set 

 from 20 to 25 feet apart. On a rich soil more room should 

 be provided for each tree than on a poor sandy soil. 



The cherry should always be planted alone and never used 

 as a filler in an orchard, and neither should fillers of any other 

 tree be used in a cherry orchard. 



The soil should be thoroughly prepared before any planting 

 is started. The surface should be level and all large lumps 

 and stones should be removed from the land. Any system 

 which suits the tastes of the grower can be used in setting 

 the trees. 



Either spring or fall planting can be practised. When 

 spring opens early and the winters are mild, with plenty of 

 moisture until late in the season, fall planting may be prac- 

 tised to an advantage. When there is danger of very cold 

 winter weather, early spring planting is the best for the 

 cherry. 



The cherry should be set in a hole large enough to receive 

 the roots without crowding them. It should be planted 

 deep enough so the tree will be 2 or 3 inches deeper than it 

 formerly stood in the nursery row. All broken and injured 

 roots should be pruned off, cutting them in such a manner 

 that the cut surface will rest on the bottom of the hole. The 

 hole should be filled about one-half full with top soil and 

 pressed firmly about the roots and the remainder of the soil 

 should be thrown in and all tramped down well. When the 

 planting is finished throw several shovelfulls of loose soil 

 o\'er the top of the ground. The loose soil prevents the loss 

 of water and keeps it from baking and from cracking. 



Cultivation. — The culti^^ation of the soil is essential for the 



greatest success in cherry cultiu-e. The most intensive 



culti\'ation should be given to the young trees from the time 



they are planted until they are four or five years old. Clean 



17 



