Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1874-12-24
From the Patrons Helper.
The Cherry QuestiOn--Winter
Kfil--Kfnd Of stock, etc.


In referring to the cherry question,
which | promised to do in this COM
munication, ! simply propose max
ing statement of facts, in doing
which I have no intention OF dis
crediting, or impugning, either the
statements or motives Of those, If
any there are, whose observations
and experiences have been different
from mine, but only wish to direct
public attention to the subject, SO
that all concerned land that is nearly
everybody may Investigate before
spring planting comes on, and see
how the matter stands ia their sew
eral localities.
In and about Knoxville it is all on
one side. In other places 1t would
seem from the statements of expert
enced pomologists, it is all the other
way. The apparent difference there
fore I presume, must depend on soil,
situation, peculiar culture, or some
other circumstance which ought to
be known and understood by every
one intending to plant.
Within the last week or SO, have
carefully examined some three or
four hundred cherry trees in this
neighborhood, the majority of which
are on MorelIo stocks, and grated
from one to three feet above the
ground. They have been planted at
various times from eight to twenty
years, but large proportion ranging
between these two periods, | may
safely assert that almost without an
exception, those on Morello stocks
are dead, or so nearly root killed by
the last two or three winters, that
the owners consider them worthless,
and cut them down to make room
for others.
On the other hahd, Of the ones
which are on Mahaleb stocks, (hav-
ing been budded near the ground) /
have not found one but what appears
to be perfectly sound, and has given
the owner full satisfaction in fruit
ing.
The MahaIeb, though not quite
hardy in the top, is possessed OF a
very hardy and healthy root. In
deed | have not known one to be
root killed, after it had become fair
~ established.
In a new orchard Of about three
thousand trees, which my son and j
have planted out on our new nursery
grounds, some four hundred are
cherry trees, among which are about
a hundred and twenty-five worked on
Morello stocks, perhaps an average
of two feet above ground. All the
rest are on Mahaleb and budded at
the ground. We have planted the
trees year after year, for the past
four or five years, having taken them
up in the fall previous to planting
and heeled-in for winter.
For the past two seasons, a consid-
cradle portion Of them have fruited,
and we discovered no difference i'm
Of crop, between those work
ed on the different roots, and we
will be happy in the fruiting season
to wait on all persons giving us a
call who may want to satisfy them
selves In regard to crops and quality
of fruit on different roots. ~
] am aware 1t Is said in some pla-
ces that the early May or Richmond
cherry, does not bear well on Maha-
leb stocks.
After testing this variety on the
above named roots, for twenty years,
| find that such statements do not
apply to this locality, for there is no
difference i'm amount of fruit on the
different stocks Of the same age. 1t
must be kept in view that most Mo-
relic stocks used are sprouts from
the roots of old trees, and being large
enough to top graft, are usually
three or four years old; in some in
stances beginning to fruit before
they are grated. Mahaleb stocks
are budded usually the second year
from seed Hence being year or
two Of difference in the age, the Mo-
relic will generally fruit first.
Until recently never heard ii in
timated that the English Morelo
does better on any other root than on