Daddies Cherry and Apple Orchard

Daddy's heart had weakened, so we had to sell the Mercantile in Deary. We were fortunate to find five acres in Clarkston Washington with a nice two story framed house. Daddy seemed to feel better from the change in altitude. When the weather began to break, daddy would be found planting amidst the already existing apple and cherry tees. It seemed to be no time at all before he had a profitable orchard of over one hundred trees. There was always so much for him to do. He would prune and fertilize and would tend to each tree with such care. It was always so beautiful to see the cherry and apple blossom begin to flourish in the late spring. The bees would be dancing around the flowers and the pollinating began. The green bulbs of fruit would start to erupt and the humidity would turn each piece of fruit into a ripened masterpiece.
When daddy began to pick the cherries, it was my job to fill the trunk of the car with the fruit from our little orchard. Next, I would carefully drive across the bridge to Lewiston. While crossing, I would grab a quick glance out the window to see the snake river flowing gracefully below. At thirteen, I was still a wee thing. I could barely see through the steering wheel as I cautiously drove along the rural roads. It was the Depression and a family had to do, what they had to do to make a living. As I entered the town of Lewiston, I could see a police car sitting along side of the road. My heart would beat with fear and anticipation. I kept my eyes forward as I moved cautiously closer to my destination. The policeman knew how tough the times were and could see no harm in turning his head the other way.
Being very small in stature, I could not even open the trunk myself. The store manager would lift the trunk before viewing the neatly boxed ruby red cherries.
In the summer months, I would drive back and forth until the cherries diminished and then in August the Apples would begin to be harvested. C.A. Bresin

Planting and Pruning Cherry Trees
Cherry Trees are typically not self-pollinating meaning that only one tree in the garden will generally not be able to produce much fruit.
Planting two or more different species with similar bloom times is a good idea. The location should have soil that is well drained, since standing water will easily kill the trees. The location should also have good air drainage, keeping low-lying cold air in the spring away from the tree. The location used for planting cherry trees should also provide for full sun access. If planting cherry trees in a lawn, the grass should be removed from the planting area in a four-foot diameter circle, to prevent the grass from competing with the young tree for nutrients and water.
Once the site is selected the first step in planting cherry trees is to dig the hole. The hole should be approximately twice the diameter of the root system, and two feet deep. The soil should also be loosened up around the border to allow the roots to break through more easily. The roots should be spread out on the loose soil, ensuring that they are not twisted or crowded. Soil should be placed around the roots and pressed down firmly, to remove any air pockets.
Pruning cherry trees plays an important role in ensuring proper growth and fruit production. Before understanding how to prune a cherry tree, it is important to know how cherry trees grow. Cherry trees are central leader trees. This means that there is one main upright trunk, called the leader. All branches will sprout and grow out of this. A properly pruned cherry tree should have a scaffold shape. This means that there are branches circling the tree, perpendicular to the leader, and there should be an area of about two feet between the levels to allow for light to reach the lower leaves and fruit.Pruning cherry trees should be done in the late winter, encouraging the plant to grow more during the growing season. The first level of branches should begin between twenty-four to thirty-six inches above the surface of the soil. The branches growing out of the central leader should be either weighted down or tied loosely to string to promote outward growth as opposed to vertical growth. The outward growing branches will produce more fruit and grow less vigorously.
Pruning cherry trees during the summer will inhibit growth, and should be done once the desired size has been reached. Pruning cherry trees too early in the winter may make the tree vulnerable to bacterial infections.
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