The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1911-11-16
RAISING CHERRY TREES
VARIETIES THAT HAVE PROVEN
SUCCESSFUL IN MISSOURI
by J. c. Written, Professor OF Hort'
culture, University OF
Missouri.

ries, however, are the better LOT
cooking and canning purposes Where
sufficient sour cherries are grown SO
as 10 market in quantity, they are
one OF our most profitable fruit crops.
The demand always exceeds the sup
ply at fair prices. Furthermore, IN
this climate, cherries are fairly safe
crop. They are much surer bearers
than many OF the other orchard fruits.
Cherries reach their best develop
ment in well drained soils. II the
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 well drained will produce
fairly remuneratiye results in cher
ries.
The best varieties for this state
nre 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 oc-
casionally planted sparingly for home
use. They are not sure enough bear
ers. however, to be recommended FOR
commercial varieties, as u rule, In
this state.
Oneyear.od cherry trees are prob
ably preferable for planting, provided
they have made strong growth and
are well branched Cherries are diff
1cult to grow in the nursery, except
in certain soils. Sometimes one.year-
old cherry trees do not reach good
size In such cases II Is probably bet
ter to plant two-ycarold 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 pulvcrizcd. 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
ly 49,
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
walton for one or two years until they
become thoroughly established and
begin vigorous. active growth. The
cultivation should be about the same
as that given TO corn. Once the trees
have become thoroughly established
and In vigorous condition, which
should he Mt the end OF the second
year. II is customary to seed down
the cherry orchard to clover. From
then on It should be left permanently
in sod.
II Is not clear to most growers why
cherry trees do not respond to con
tinued cultivation as do peaches. The
feeding roots OF the cherry usually
form abundantly near the surface OF
the ground. These feeding roots arc
doubtless more or less broken by cul
tiyation after the tree reaches some
size Roots which are broken of are
not quickly replaced. The cherry if
one OF the most backward OF the fruit
trees in putting out new growth where
old growth has been broken OFF. This
is as true of the root system as It Is
OF the branches above ground. Tn,
disadvantage of cultivation probabl,
lies largely in the fact that It breaks
too many roots, which are not quick
ly or readily replaced by the tree
Sprouting or sukkering from the roots
frequently occurs II the cultivation
is kept UP. The tree should not bt
cultivated much after midsummer, al
1t may cause 1t to go into the wlnteI
with green. unrIpened growth.
The first pruning takes place at thu
time the tree is to be set In the or
chard ANY ragged wounds at the tip
OF the roots, caused by digging
should be cut OFF with n smooth cut
II any main root is long enough tina
II can not be gotten into the hol
for planting without bending,
should be shortened. 1t is better t,
shorten the root than to have 1t twist
ed out OF the normal shape In plant
ing.
The shape OF the top requires grea
care. The cherry, perhaps, needs 4
be pruned less than any other frui
tree. Most of It's fresh active bud
are near the tips Of the branches
The buds on the main stem and loS
down on the limbs become very dol
mant and inactive. New growth, Their
can push readily only from the grow
ing tips, or near the terminals. Thu
II is mistake to cut back the limbs
as the active buds will be remove
and tho remaining parts OF the tire
will not push readily into growth.
II is necessary to remove any OF tn
ton az the tree TO balance the cut roc