The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1900-02-23

Read before the Allen County Horticultural
Society Feb, Q, 1900 by j. W Johnson.
The Cherry is no longer considered
luxury only, but seems to have been
advanced to the position of one Of our
staple fruits, and few of our orchard
products can he served in more varied
or tempting forms. But when we eb.
serve how few seem to give it more
than small place in their plans for n
profitable orchard we are impressed
with the belief that many are still
giving it far too little attention. Mr..
Wellhouse in talking of Apples for
profit" said: 81 plant but few
varieties" and these he chooses from
varieties well known as adapted to
climate, seasons and the market upon
which he depends for future profits.
These are as essential in the cherry
orchard for profit and also for home
consumption and should be incorpor-
| ated in our plans.
We once failed to observe all the
conditions mentioned and after fifteen
years Of care and waiting found we
had trees In our orchard that grew
and bloomsd admirably but whose
fruit never came to maturity. The
variety did well in New York but
were not adapted to the conditions in
Allen county, Kansas. We had also
secured few native cherries at a low
/ price and set these out in the rear of
the orchard aud they being adapted
to the conditions of the climate, mois.
ture, etc, there existing, soon came
into profitable bearing. But for one
who has no time nor inclination to
plan for marketing his fruit after 1t is
produced, it is unwlse to plant out a
large space in the cherry for the
simple reason that we usually do on
the Kansas farm, neglect the trees
and have fruit often inferior and
disappointing both to the grover and
consumer.
OF course the success of plans that
require the lapse of years to perfect
are subject to many unforeseen condi-
tions but the experience of others can
be relied upon as guides and there is
just where our horticultural Societies
discussions should benefit us and
then if we are wise enough to see the
true among the false and make it our
base for future profit we have our re.
ward.
Our suggestions to one contempIat-
ing the setting of a cherry orchard for
the money profits are to keep in mind
| these points: Soils adapted to the
cherry. Care in setting and culture.
| Varieties adapted to your locality.
The success you desire and the
market you can reasonably hope to
find.
AS to the soil, Downing says that
"a sandy or gravelly soil is the
cherry's favori.e home" therefore
good drainage should be one especial
point needing attention where COM
pact subsoil is known to exist near
the surface, as the cherry is u shallow
rooted tree and too much moisture
about the fbrOus roots when the trees
are small will greatly lessen the pro-
spects of vigorous growth. A. n.
Swigart OF lola suggests the digging
of one or more trenches to lead the
surplus moisture away from the trees
while young, as all trees in this
climate that are budded on to the
French Mahaleb roots are hard to get
started but if carefully set, cultivat.
cd, mulched, watered and protected
from surplus water during the first
year are usually safe and profitable
and are always nou.sprouters. The
latter characteristic is u very impor-
tant one.
OF varieties we shall mention but
few and only those that have been
found worthy and proven their merits
in the experiences of our members
and neighbOrs. There are three
primary varieties that have a part In
subject viz. Dukes, Morelas and
Sweet or BigarreAus. OF these the
first two are of the acids or sour and
they have many crosses and do we'll
in our county. OF our succession, the
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