CHAPTER IV 



THE CHERRY 

 By GEORGE BUNYARD 



The county of Kent has long been celebrated for the quality of cherries 

 which it produces, and in all probability they were first planted in this part of 

 England, of which Cassar speaks more favourably than of any other district which 

 he visited. Some authors assure us that the cherry, which was brought into 

 this country by the Romans, was lost in the Saxon period, and only restored by 

 Richard Harris, fruiterer to Henry VIIL, who brought it from Flanders, and 

 planted it at Sittingbourne in Kent. This appears to be an error, as Gerarde 

 says " the Flanders cherry tree differeth not from our English cherry tree in 

 stature or in form." There is an account of a cherry orchard of 32 acres 

 in Kent, which in the year 1540 produced fruit that sold in those early days for 

 ^1000, which seems an enormous sum, as at that period good land is stated to 

 have let at one shilling per acre ! 



Few of our hardy fruit trees are more accommodating than the cherry. 

 The cottager in his little garden may have it in the form of a bush, pyramid, 

 standard, or as a single cordon against a fence or wall, and the amateur may 

 have it in these forms also, as well as on espaliers, as recommended for pears. 

 He may grow it successfully under glass, either planted out or in pots, and thus 

 extend the season of this delicious fruit from early May to the middle of 

 September by growing early, mid-season, and late varieties. As an orchard crop, 

 where the soil and situation are favourable, few hardy fruits are capable of giving, 

 on an average, a better cash return. As regards soil and situation, the sweet or 

 dessert cherry succeeds in the southern and South Midland counties the best. 

 It thrives well in rather an elevated position, where it has the advantage of light, 

 good natural drainage, freedom from damp, immunity from frost when in flower, 

 and the advantage of driving showers of rain in the early summer ; these not 

 only refresh the trees, but keep the foliage healthy and clean. The above 

 remarks refer more particularly to plantations or orchards. The soil in 

 which the cherry succeeds best is strong, somewhat marly loam, of a fair depth, 

 resting on a substratum of gravel or chalk ; where no chalk or lime is present in 

 the soil, some must be added before success can be attained in the culture of the 

 cherry, or, we may say, of any stone fruit. 



The stock used for grafting all orchard cherry trees upon should be the 

 common or wild black cherry. The Continental seedlings do not seem to be 

 so hardy, but the British stock is suitable for all. We do not find any great 

 advantage generally in using the Mahaleb stock for cherries, although it suits 



