THE GARDEN. NOTES FOR THE WEEK.

Otago Witness, Issue 1653, 28 July 1883, Page 7

THE GARDEN. NOTES FOR THE WEEK.

THE CHERRY.

(Continued.) Propagation.— Budding or grafting are th usual methods adopted in the propagation o the cherry, seeds or stones being seldom sown, unless for the raising of new varieties. Either operation is performed in the same way as in the case of the plum. Scions for grafting must be taken off early, and if so, provided the operation is well performed, there is little, danger of failure ; but if they are not cut until the buds have considerably advanced, the grafts frequently do not resist the effects of I dry weather. I have seen vigorous shoots, with large pith, cut off for scoins and stuck in the ground in June ; and though in September, when graftedj the pith was discoloured, being of a dark instead a light colour, yet they all succeeded, whilst scions cut off and grafted fresh, failed to a considerable extent, although treated with the same care in every other respect, thus showing tho advantage of taking the scions off before the buds begin to swell. It sometimes happens that in old trees of the May Duke class every bud on the scions is a blossom bud, with the exception of the terminal one ; this should therefore be preserved, otherwise failure is certain. The best soil for the cherry is a moderately rich, free, rather sandy Icam, with a well-drained subsoil. Stiff, moist soils are unsuitable, and so, on the other hand, are dry, gravelly subsoils. The trees require a large amount of moisture, particularly the sorts with large leaves, such as the Begarreau and Heart cherries. In free soils the roots can more easily travel after moisture, but in clayey or stiff, loamy soils. When this is exhausted they are fixed, as it were, in a compact, hard-baked mass, from which they can draw no moisture. In a dry, loose soil, on the contrary, there is considerable circulation of air, which, being charged with moisture at night, will afford a supply of that necessary element to spongioles — not in abundance, it h true, but to a beneficial extent. The soil must be well prepared and in good condition, but not freshly manured. A northern exposure is the best for the cherry ; but the Morello and Kentish varieties will bear fruit useful for kitchen purposes, and ripen it on a wall with

a southern aspect. The method of planting the tree is the same as in the case of the apple, pear, and plum.