Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-03-05
GROWING THE CHERRY

PROBABLY no tree fruit is grown more
widely throughout tho country than
the sour cherry, or pie" cherry. as it
Is often called. The distribution of
sweet cherries is more restricted The
thirteenth census reports for the Gu
IRE country total OF lI.S2a.0ii cherry
trees OF bearing age. and about one
haif AS many not of bearing age
In selecting a location for cherry
growing that is, the general region or
community in which tho enterprise is
10 be dcNeioped--scrcral things need to
he considered with much care The
general relation between climatic con-
ditionS and the geographic dis,ribu-
tion or commercial cherry culture has
been mentioned. AS the fruit is very
periShable, quick transportation to
market is essential, and also refrieera-
tor service If the fruit is TO be shipped
ionG distances; and, further, relative
~ large crew is required TO handle the
fruit properly. Large orchards. there
fore. should not be located where il ia
practically or economically impossible
10 assemble and care for the requisite
abor TO handle the fruit properly.
Sherry trees thrive on wide range
OF SOIL types. provided the soils are
well drained There il, perhaps, no
fruit trees more sensitive 10 the Ill
effects OF poorly drained soil than
the cherry. In many important cherry
growing regions the prevailing types
OF soil are rather light-sandy, sandy
loans and other light loams-.common-
~ underlain with a more or less claycv
Suns"ii. Such soils characterize the
areas bordering the Great Lakes, where
me most important commercial inter-
cstS east of tho Rocky Mountains are
located. However. the industry doubt
less has developed in these regions ba-
cause OF the climatic conditions which
water that they adjoin rather than be-
cause OF the existence there Of any
particular soil types; but as the
heavier rlayey types are often OK
tremely retentive of moisture or other
wise insufciently drained for good re-
SUITS with cherries. IL obviously fol-
lows that the comparatively light soils
arc preferred for TINS fruit For sweet
cherries the lighter. warmer types are
usually regarded as essential for suc-
cessful results. Soils that are cs-
pecially "drourhiy" and dry on, "a,
cess!reiH arc Unsatisfactory for either
type OF cherry. Moderately productive
soils give hotter results than those
which represent either extreme in for
tility.
The cherry, generally speaking. has
ho"h n profitable fruit TO grow in the
past. Largely. doubtless. because OF
TINS. tho industry has been extended
:, '"'' W RECENT years. increase
paintings, particularly OF sour cherries
haNo been made not only in sections
"herc previously large quantities have
peeh grown for market but also in
regions not formerly prominent in this
respect II, therefore, follows that
large numbers Of trees arc just coming
INTO nearing or have not yet reached
.hsir fun bearing capacity
ne most Of the important CONNER
clal h-rry-producing regions are so
located geographically that much of
the fruit from them finds its natural
outlet through the same markets, thus
making keen competition in seasons
OF good crop in the several more
important sections Of commercial pro
ductton. As the younger orchards, of
"hlch there are many. come into full
bearing. competition naturally may be
expected TO increase rather than de-