174 
and will require nearly twice the space. 
Where there is plenty of moisture, the 
trees may be planted at less distance, as 
where there is barely enough; because 
where the water is scarce, the roots have 
to draw moisture from a larger area 
than where it is abundantly supplied. 
Where there is plenty of water, and a 
rich soil, the tendency will be toward 
a heavy wood growth at the expense of 
heavy fruitage: while in regions where 
the soil is thin and the water scarce, 
the tendency will be toward heavy fruit- 
age at the expense of wood growth. Un- 
der these latter conditions, the tree would 
probably lack vital force and be short 
lived. 
Cherries as Fillers 
It is common in some sections to plant 
an apple orchard, selecting other fruits 
as fillers to be planted between the rows 
or apples and to be cut out when the 
trees begin to crowd and the apples need 
the space. For this purpose, peaches, 
pears, and other fruits have been se- 
lected. The cherry is not adapted to 
this form of planting since it requires a 
different method of cultivation from any 
of the fruits named. It matures its 
crop early and requires the remainder of 
the season for the development of its 
fruit spurs for the coming year; also re- 
quires less water during this period, and 
less humus than the other crops. 
The rules for the planting of the cher- 
ry, are but little different from those of 
any orchard fruits. It is important to 
have the holes large enough to receive 
the roots without crowding, and deep 
enough so that the tree is set a little deep- 
er than when in the nursery. Tramp the 
soil well about the surface, to hold the 
tree from shaking in the wind. 
The age of the tree at the time of 
planting is a subject of controversy and 
opinions differ, generally, with differing 
conditions. In the Northeastern states, 
and in Canada, the preference seems to 
be generally in favor of two-year-old 
trees. In the Western states, especially 
the Pacific coast states, the preference 
is in favor of one-year-old trees. This 
difference grows partly out of the fact 
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF PRACTICAL HORTICULTURE 
that in the West, where the climate is 
milder, the seasons longer, and the lands 
are irrigated, the trees make a much 
more rapid growth than in the Northeast, 
and are approximately as large in one 
year as in the East in two years. Even 
where irrigation is not the rule in the 
Pacific coast regions, as in the Wil- 
Jamette valley in Oregon, or west of the 
Cascades in Washington, the climate is 
mild, the rainfall abundant and most 
abundant at the time the cherry most 
needs it; therefore, this region is pecu- 
liarly adapted to the growing of cherries. 
Under these conditions, we think the 
choice of one-year-old stock is decidedly 
preferable, to two-year-old stock, Furth- 
er, the earlier in the life of the tree the 
head is shaped, the less it is damaged by 
cutting, and the better top it will form. 
Cultivating a Cherry Orchard 
For the first three or four years at 
least the cherry orchard should have 
clean culture. This does not mean that 
vegetables which require cultivation may 
not be grown among the trees. In fact, 
we think this is ordinarily an advantage 
rather than a disadvantage, because it 
does not injure the trees, insures cultiva- 
tion, and utilizes much land that is oth- 
erwise wasted. It does mean that the 
growing of grass, especially blue grass, 
or timothy, is not favorable for the best 
growth of the trees. Much depends on 
the nature of the soil. West of the Cas- 
cades where the soil is rich in humus 
and where the tendency would likely be 
toward a heavy wood growth, a fall crop 
of oats, fall wheat or winter rye, might 
be grown. On the east side of the Cas- 
cades, where the soil is rich in mineral 
substances, but lacks nitrogen and humus, 
a cover crop of clover, peas, alfalfa, or 
vetch, might be grown. There are no 
rules that apply equally well under all 
conditions, and the orchardist must al- 
ways decide for himself what are the 
soil and climatic conditions, and how 
they should be utilized in reference to 
the crop he is growing. The cherry, like 
all other trees, must be adapted to its 
environment in order to produce the best 
results. There is perhaps no part of the 
