THE CHERRY 39 



without the labour of removing the net each time the fruit is gathered and 

 the discomfort of stooping ; the net may be left over the trees until all the 

 fruit has been gathered. 



The Morello Cherry.— This hardy, prolific, and useful cherry thrives 

 well on a north wall, as a bush in the open, or even planted as a hedge. It is 

 not particular as to climate, as it succeeded well on a north wall at Chatsworth 

 (Derbyshire), where the conditions for the culture of hardy fruit are as un- 

 favourable as any part of England. The Morello cherry is an excellent poor 

 man's fruit ; it is a sure and heavy cropper, causing little trouble and com- 

 paratively no expense, and will thrive w^ell in any ordinary garden soil. It is a 

 fruit that always finds a ready sale at remunerative prices ; it makes the best 

 cherry brandy, and preserved for puddings and confectionery it is invaluable 

 to the cook or housewife during winter. The system of pruning in the case of 

 the Morello is different to that of the ordinary cherry, in that the spur system 

 is discarded for that by which peaches are usually pruned, viz. leave the previous 

 year's shoots their full length, and tie or nail them to the wall 3 inches apart all 

 over the tree. The trees must be trained fan-shaped. 



THE CHERRY UNDER GLASS 



The general cultural remarks concerning cherry culture against walls out- 

 of-doors apply equally to trees grown in a glass-house ; the culture of cherries 

 in pots under glass is explained in a separate chapter. The cherry as a crop 

 under glass is an important and valuable one, as the fruits are ripe when other 

 choice fruits are scarce, namely, late in April, and throughout the month of 

 May. The best results are obtained by training the trees (fan-shaped) to a 

 trellis fixed to the roof of the house and 1 8 inches away from the glass. Where 

 this is not convenient, they succeed very well planted against the back wall 

 provided the light is not too much obscured by other plants growing in front. 

 The point of greatest importance to observe in forcing cherry trees is not to 

 excite them into growth and flower too quickly. It is not safe to commence 

 before the middle of January, and fire heat must not be applied for three weeks 

 after this, the grower being satisfied with the heat obtained by closing the house 

 early. In forcing the cherry one should bear in mind that the trees must not 

 be made to grow too quickly at any time from the day the house is started 

 until the fruit is formed. Afterwards more heat may be allowed, especially by 

 closing early, that the house may be warmed by the sun ; the cherry does not 

 like artificial heat at any time. Still, when the fruits are formed, it is quite safe 

 to make use of it in dull and cold weather to keep up the necessary temperature. 

 It is also necessary to have sufficient heat in the pipes to maintain a dry and 

 buoyant atmosphere while the trees are in bloom ; but avoid at that time a 

 high temperature, and be sure you have a good circulation of air, and an absence 

 of dampness round the flowers night and day. If you must err at all, err on 

 the side of a low temperature during the time of flowering rather than a high 

 one, bearing in mind to have the conditions as similar as possible to those 

 prevailing out-of-doors when the trees are in bloom, and we know it is then 



