88 



THE MINIATURE FRUIT GARDEN. 



ered (as they appeared to me from the railway car- 

 riage) with bright red Sowers. I learned, on inquiry, 

 that these were cherry bushes — literally masses of 

 fruit, of the above variety. I find, however, that it 

 is not equal to the Kentish in flavor or size in Eng- 

 land. 



I need scarcely add, that the culture of all the 

 Duke tribe of cherries by closely pinched-in pyramids, 

 biennially removed, or biennially root-pruned, is most 

 satisfactory. It is, perhaps, more easily performed 

 than root-pruning, and the trees soon form perfect 

 pictures. As far as my experience has gone, cherries 

 on the Mahaleb are much more fruitful when " oft 

 removed ;" the most eligible mode is to remove only 

 half the trees in one season, and the remainder the 

 following season. I have seen nothing in fruit-tree 

 culture more interesting than handsome compact 

 pyramids of such sorts of cherries as the May Duke, 

 Duchesse de Palluau, Empress Eugenie, and Arch- 

 duke. One feels surprise to find that as yet but few 

 lovers of gardening know of the existence of such 

 trees. 



It will much facilitate the operation on their roots, 

 if the trees be planted on small mounds. 



In forming plantations of pyramidal and dwarf 

 cherries on the Mahaleb stock, it is necessary to 

 arrange them with a little care. The two groups, 

 those of the habit of the Morello tribe, and those of 

 the compact habit of the May Duke, should be planted 

 in separate rows. Bigarreau and Heart cherries are 

 too short-lived, when grafted on this stock, in most 

 descriptions of soils, to be recommended. 



