THE ORCHARD-HOUSE. 



235 



tion is beneficial not only to the Cherry, but to all 

 stone-fruit trees. 



Like the Peach, the Plum and the CheiTy should 

 be carefully fertilised on bright sunny days when the 

 temperature has reached the maximum. Up to and 

 after the flowering, daily syringing is necessary, but 

 a cold, wet, sloppy state of a house in which such low 

 temperatures prevail cannot be too strongly depre- 

 cated, as an excess of moisture is quite as injurious 

 as the want of it. Cherries and Plums should be re- 

 moved from the house to the 

 open air as soon as the fruit 

 is gathered, and if potting be 

 necessary the trees should be 

 shifted into lai-ger, or reduced 

 and replaced in the same- 

 sized pots, as soon as the 

 wood and flower buds are 

 properly formed and the 

 foliage shows signs of chang- 

 ing for ripening. If plunged 

 out of doors where the pots 

 vrill be safe from frost, the 

 trees wUl have the benefit of 

 autumn and winter rain, and 

 be in better condition for 

 fruiting, with infinitely less 

 ti'ouble than if kept under 

 glass, where the most skilful 

 management will hardly keep 

 them in proper order as to 

 ventilation and moisture. 



In course of time they al- 

 most cease making wood, and 

 the spurs require thinning out 

 with a flne-bladed knife just 

 before the buds begin to swell. 

 At this time they should be 

 well washed with soap- water, 

 provided the weather is mQd, and in wooded districts 

 a flshing-net will be needed to protect them from the 

 depredations of birds-. Being subject to black and 

 green fly, they must be weU fumigated just before 

 the flowers open, and again at intervals after the 

 fruit has set. Another enemy about this time must 

 also be looked for in the form of a small, black, hvely 

 grub, which speedily destroys the crop. Its where- 

 abouts can always be discovered by the curled or 

 joined-together appearance of the leaves, and its de- 

 struction can only be wrought by hand-picking or 

 pinching before it attacks the fruit. 



A great number of fine varieties of dessert Cherries 

 are now in cultivation, and all of them do well under 

 pot culture ; but for general purposes a few of the 

 good, old, well-known kinds are stiU in favour 

 with growers who have to provide for rich men's 



Fig. 12.— Greengage Bush.tree, 



tables, and as these growers have paid for their expe- 

 rience, the amateur will not go far wrong if he fol- 

 lows in their wake. Although Dr. Hogg has divided 

 Cherries into a number of sections, we need not here 

 do more than throw them into two — the Dukes, and 

 the Hearts, or Bigarreaus. The first section will 

 give a supply throughout the Cherry season, and the 

 second is well worthy of extensive cultivation under 

 glass, where, independently of their safety from birds 

 and insects, the large Bigarreaus and Blacks attain 

 quality rarely met with in 

 fruit from open walls. 



Duke Chekkies. 



Arohduke. — One of the 

 best; ten days later than 

 May Duke. 



Dnchesse de Fullwau. — ^A 

 large, robust variety of the 

 May Duke. 



Empress Eugenie. — An early 

 variety of the May Duke. 



Zate Duke. — ^An excellent 

 late subacid Cherry. 



May Duke. — Too well 

 known to require description. 



Kouvelle Royale. — ^Tery late. 



Flanchoury. — "Willhang till 

 September. 



Royal Duke. — Large, juicy, 

 and agreeable ; succeeds the 

 May Duke. 



Heart and Bigarrbau 

 Cherries. 



1. Siyan-eau Jaboulay. — 

 Ijarge, rich, and delicious. 

 The earliest Bigarreau known, 

 and ripens before May Duke. 



2. Bigarreau Napoleon. — ^Large, rich, and prolific ; 

 very late, and an abundant bearer. One of the best 

 for exhibition. 



3. Dlack Tartarian. — ^Large and handsome. Tree 

 a great bearer. One of the best for exhibition. 



4. Jilack Circassian. — ^Equal to the above. One of 

 the best Black Cherries known. 



5. Early Sivers.—Yei-y early ; rich and fine. 



6. Elton. —Large, rich, and excellent. One of the 

 best old Cherries in cultivation. 



7. Governor Wood. — ^Very large, tender, delicious. 

 A great bearer. "Worthy of extensive cultivation. 



8. Montreuse de Mezel. — The largest Bigarreau 

 known. 



The rig. — ^As the culture of the Fig under glass 

 wiU be treated of separately in detail, it is only neces- 



