1076 



PB ACTIO AL GUIDE TO GABDEN PLANTS cheeet 



Training. — Cherries may be grown 

 as bushes or pyramid trees planted not 

 nearer than 10 ft., and as standards with 

 a distance of 20-30 ft. between them. 

 On walls a distance of 15-20 ft. may be 

 left between the plants to allow for ex- 

 tending the branches without having to 

 prune them too severely. 



The black and red Morello Cherries 

 may be trained on walls facing north and 

 east, while the others may be grown with 

 more favourable aspects. 



The best time to plant Cherry trees is 

 in November, but any time up to the end 

 of February is suitable provided the 

 weather is mild, and the soil not in a wet, 

 sodden, or frosty condition. 



Protection. — Besides the protection 

 from spring frosts given by walls, it is 

 also essential to keep a guard over the 

 fruits when they are ripening, as the birds 

 play great havoc among them. The only 

 sure plan to save them is by covering the 

 trees with a net, the meshes of which 

 will prevent the entrance or exit of the 

 birds. "With the exception of the Morello 

 Cherries, which are improved by hang- 

 ing on the tree as long as possible after 

 ripening, all others should be eaten when 

 ripe. 



Thinning the Fruit. — Some Cherries 

 produce inmiense numbers of flowers, but 

 it is undesirable that they should all set 

 their fruit. The strain upon the tree would 

 be too great. Where a very heavy crop is 

 left after the ' stoning ' period, it is wise 

 to go over the trees and thin out the 

 smallest and least likely fruits. This may 

 be done on dwarf and wall trees fairly 

 easily, but becomes almost impossible on 

 tall standards grown in orchards or mar- 

 ket gardens. In most localities, however, 

 it is scarcely necessary to do any thinning, 

 as only a fair percentage of the fruits will 

 come to perfection, the others dropping 

 naturally at the stoning period. To assist 

 the setting and ripening of the fruits a 

 good mulching of well -rotted manure 

 may be placed on the soil, and this prac- 

 tice will be found beneficial to all fruits of 

 this period. 



Insect Pests, Diseases &c. — Gumming 

 is perhaps one of the worst afflictions 

 of the Cherry tree, as with the Plum tree. 

 It is often due to badly drained soil and 

 bad pruning, that is, if there can be any 

 other kind of pruning except that which 

 is done properly. Pinching or cracking 

 the growths in summer and judicious 



cutting back in autumn are great preven- 

 tives (see p. 1034). 



CwnJcer occasionally 

 attacks the trees and may 

 be remedied as described 

 under the Apple, p. 1047. 



The Black or Bean 

 Fly (Aphis rumicis) is 

 sometimes a great 

 nuisance. It may be 

 checked by spraying with 

 a solution of soft soap, 

 quassia chips, and tobacco 

 as in the case of Plums 

 (p. 1071). 



Pruning. — Summer 

 and autumn or early 

 winter pruning are very 

 beneficial to Cherries 

 when practicable. In 

 the case of large stan- 

 dards, however, it will be 

 sufficient to thin out 

 unnecessary branches. 

 On the whole Cherries rie. 156.— cheret. 

 require less pruning than 

 Apples, Pears, or Plums, and it is very 

 rarely advisable to root prune them (see 

 p. 1031). Morello Cherries require a 

 different system of pruning, as stated 

 below. 



The difference in the wood and fruit 

 buds is shown in the illustration, fig. 156. 

 At A is represented last year's growth 

 bearing only wood-buds shovm at w, whil& 

 at B are shown the short spurs with plump 

 fruit-buds. 



Varieties of Cheery to Grow 



In the following descriptions the 

 names are arranged alphabetically, but as 

 a certain amount of importance is attached 

 to the various sections into which the 

 Cherries are divided (see p. 1075), these 

 have been distinguished as follows. The 

 letter 'G' in brackets following a name 

 indicates that the variety belongs to the 

 Gean section ; the letter 'B ' the Bigan-eau 

 section ; the letter ' D ' the Duke section ; 

 and the letter ' M ' the Morello section. 



Dr. Hogg in his ' Fruit Majiuar 

 describes over 120 varieties of Cherries, 

 but the following will be foimd to com- 

 prise the finest and those most worth 

 growing. 



Archduke (D).— A rich and briskly 

 flavoured Cherry ripe from the middle of 

 July, pale red at first, becoming deep red,. 



