The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1884-01-30
Cherries.

We are expecting soon to present to our
readers an article upon Plums and Plum
Culture, from the pen Of our accomplished
correspondent, j. T. Macomber of Grand
Isle. Meantime we reprint from the Home
Farm paper upon Cherries, by Granville
Fernald, Esq, corresponding secretary Of
the Maine Pathological Society.
cit is nearly fifteen years since COM
menced planting cherries, and L have
tested about fifteen varieties of the best
native and foreign kinds. My experience
leads to the conclusion that the cherry
tree is generally hardy and, under fair
treatment, is very productive. The earliest
variety of which have any knowledge is
the Early Purple Guigne, large, dark
colored cherry, of good quality. The tree
is thrifty, upright grower, with open and
somewhat spreading top. About the twen-
tieth of June this cherry is ripe, and
while the farmer is busy in the field the
cherry bird comes, and at one or two ses-
sons ruins the crop. Of eight or ten other
kinds, ripening soon after the Guigne,
such as Governor Wood, cleveland,
Bigarreau, Elton, Black Eagle, Goes
Transparent, and others, all fine, prolific
kinds, can say there is great pleasure in
witnessing the blossoming and early fruit
age, but unless one can guard the ripen-
ing fruit with unoeasing vigilance, shot
gun in hand, he cannot expect to realize
much satisfaction or profit from the Guilt
walton of sweet cherries. Two years ago
think my crop would have been not less
than ten bushels, on about the same num-
Der of trees, had the birds let them alone,
but they destroyed more than half the
crop. If cheap and convenient mode of
protecting this fruit could be invented, it
might be remunerative business to raise
The finest kinds of cherries in any guam
tity. There are several kinds of sour
cherries which are very hardy and thrifty
in growth, and productive of handsome
fruit, being, when we'll ripened, quite sweet
and very palatable. The Early Richmond
leads us to earliness, being ripe about the
first and second week in July. They are
generally ranked as culinary being used
much for cooking. This is, 80 far as
quality and appearance are concerned, al.
most identical with the Late Kentish, the
old tame cherry of our earliest remem'
brance. The latter named kind comes
into use about the middle of July, but il
, allowed to hang and ripen up to a dark
red color will we'll pay for the waiting in
its superior flavor. To my taste, the soul
cherries, when thoroughly ripened and
} eaten, in their perfection of mature sweet.
| ness are not excelled and hardly equalled
by the sweet kinds, which are in some
cases meaty, insipid, and devoid of that
rich, juicy quality characteristic of the
, best. The Refine Hortense is one of the
i, largest and finest favored cherries in the
whole catalogue, but in my experience
the tree has tendency to rot in the trunk
where the main branches separate, and i,
soon goes to ruin. 1t is quite prolific anG
, is not so devastated by the birds as the
earlier kinds. But it is apt to rot on the
tree and is very short-lived after being
plucked. The Black Tartarian is another
of the choicest varieties with which l an
8 acquainted. The tree is upright, with
stout branches and shoots, and the fruit il
, 'just elegant as the school girls say
The English Morello is one of the intensely
3 sour kinds, but when dead ripe quite
acceptable to a cherry lover; it is so thrifty
9 and hardy, and the fruit is so beautiful
when fully matured, that it is satisfac
ton to raise it, even if one uses it wholly
for cooking. The Belle Magnifque il
OuO VI uuO iuVoU uoplO fdtiCUlco Ill
/ whole cherry family. Low branched ant
{ spreading, it is just adapted to the ordi
= nary fruit garden. 1t is very prolific ant
the latest, probably, of any well-knowl
: sort. Two years ago l picked severa
y fine baskets of this variety from one tree
= late in August, and sent them to Port
, land dealer by express. They brough
- five dollars per bushel. This is sour ant
! t.
i enough to eat when ripe. OF the latte
d named kinds, the Richmond, Late Kent
; ish, Morello and Magnifque are not gen
L orally much affected by birds, and for tina
i reason, as we'll as for their inherent goo
Q qualities, are among the most profitabl
q kinds to raise. Other old standard kind
| have not mentioned, May Duke an
. Black Heart, but know they are yer
desirable and are among the very best c
d those recommended for cultivation i
q Maine by the State Pathological Society.