HOCKINGS' GARDEN MANUAL. 



79 



Varieties. — The Ditke and Morello cherries are said 

 to be more hardy than the Hearts and Biggareaus, and 

 some of the white varieties less subject to the depreda- 

 tions of birds than the red and black sorts. 



Propagation by seeds : The cherry may be grown 

 from seed when it is desired to raise new varieties ; but, 

 to effect this with any degree of certainty, artificial 

 fecundation must take place. The late Mr. Knight 

 was in this manner the originator of the following : 

 Knight's Early Black (a hybrid between the Biggareau 

 and May Duke), Black Eagle, Doivnton, Elton, Water- 

 loo, &c, &c. " The cherry," Mr. Knight observes, 

 " sports more extensively into varieties, when propagated 

 from seeds, than any other fruit, and is, therefore, pro- 

 bably capable of acquiring a higher state of perfection 

 than it has ever yet attained. New varieties are also 

 much wanted." 



Soil and situation : The soil can scarcely be too dry — 

 in fact there are few soils sufficiently dry for this fruit. 



A good sandy loam on a dry, well drained subsoil, 

 in an open, elevated position, free from fogs, will be 

 found the most suitable. The fine Kentish cherry 

 orchards are usually in a fine deep loam, incumbent on 

 rock. 



Planting, pruning, &c. : The trees may be planted at 

 twenty feet apart. The formation of the heads of 

 young trees should be well attended to, and the 

 pruning afterwards will be confined chiefly to thinning 

 out crossed or crowded branches — severe pruning should 

 be avoided— and all suckers should be carefullyremoved. 



Manure : The application of about eight pounds of 

 salt to each full-grown tree is recommended as a surface 

 dressing in the spring. 



THE CHESTNUT. 



The chestnut has never been much in favor as an 

 orchard tree in the colonies, although, from its being a 



