The Butler weekly times. (Butler, Mo.) 1881-1918, 1911-12-07
RAISING. CHERRY TREES
VARIETIES THAT HAVE PROVEN
SUCCESSFUL IN MISSOURI,
BY J. c. Written, Professor OF Horti-
culture, University of
Missouri.

Missouri cherry growing is largel
confined to the sour types of che
ries. Sweet cherries, which thirty
in the sea-coast regions, are not yer
successful in Missouri. The sour che
ries, however, are the better 70
cooking and canning purposes. Wher
sufficient sour cherries are grown 8
as to market in quantity, they ar
one of our most profitable fruit crops
The demand always exceeds the sup
ply at fair prices. Furthermore, il
this climate, cherries are fairly SAT,
crop. They are much surer bearer.
than many of the other orchard fruits
Cherries reach their best develop
soil is sandy, so much the better
Higher elevations are best adapted
| for them. They are not gross feed
ers, and will often thrive on thin
soils. Almost any Missouri land
which is we'll drained will produce
fairly remunerative results in cher.
ries.
The best varieties for this state
are Early Richmond, Montmorency
and English Morello. They have gen.
orally proven successful in this state
AS with most other fruits, however,
there are successful new varieties
coming into use from time to time.
The Dukes and sweet cherries are &C.
casionally planted sparingly for home
use. They are not sure enough bear
ers, however, to be recommended for
commercial varieties, as a rule, in
this state.
One-year-old cherry trees are prob
ably preferable for planting, provided
they have made a strong growth and
are we'll branched. Cherries are diff.
hcult to grow in the nursery, except
In certain soils. Sometimes one-year-
size. In such cases it is probably bet
ter to plant two-year-old trees. For
commercial purposes, trees for plant.
ing should not be more than two
years old.
In preparing for cherries, the soil
should be thoroughly plowed, har.
rowcd and pulverized. Planting may
be done either in the spring or fall.
In the southern half of the state,
where the winters are less severe,
many growers prefer autumn plant
Ing. In the northern half of the state
where the winters are colder, early
spring planting may possibly have
the advantage. Cherries, however,
may be successfully planted either in
autumn or spring. The trees should
be set in check rows, 20 feet apart
each way. They should be set about
as deep as they stood in the nursery.
The soil should be packed firmly
about the roots, leaving an inch OF
loose soil spread on the top to pre-
vent baking. :
After the trees are planted, the
trees should be given thorough cult
Vation for one or two years until they .
become thoroughly established and
begin vigorous active growth. The
cultivation should be about the same
Is that given to corn Once the trees II
lave become thoroughly established !
md in vigorous condition, which .
should be at the end of the second e
rear, 1t is customary to seed down u
he cherry orchard to clover. From q
hen 'on it should be left permanently
n sod. 81
1t is not clear to most growers why y
berry trees do not respond to con- "
inued cultivation as do peaches. The ~
eeding roots of the cherry usually
orm abundantlt near the surface of 81
ne ground. These feeding roots are a.
oubtless more or less broken by cul- l
walton after the tree reaches some W
lie. Roots which are broken off are te
OF quickly replaced. The cherry is 81
ne OF the most backward Of the fruit 81
rees IN putting out new growth where I"
Id growth has been broken off. This 10
as true Of the root system as it is 81
the branches above ground. The CO
lsadvantage Of cultivation probably lei
es largely in the fact that 1t breaks IN
70 many roots, which are not quick IL
: or readily replaced by the tree.
prouting or sukkering from the roots 10
occurs If the cultivation ca
kept up. The tree should not be pc
lltivated much after midsummer, as an
may cause 1t to go into the winter lin
18th green, unripened growth. TO
The first pruning takes place at the pa
ne the tree is to be set in the or tn
ard. Any ragged wounds at the tins mi
the roots. caused by digging. up
ould be cut of with a smooth cut ms
any main root is long enough that TO
can not be gotten into the hole en-
planting without bending, it lor
ould be shortened. 1t is better to the
orten the root than to have It twist col
out OF the normal shape in plant. 70
3. gre
The shape Of the top requires great wh
re- The cherry, perhaps, needs to F,
pruned less than any other fruit 49,.
'e. Most Of its fresh active buds o.. 0
near the tips of the branches. ..
u buds on the main stem and low ~
wn on the limbs become very dor. 80.
Mt