Cherry shoots which are not required or desired for branch-forming can be transferred into fruit spurs, if the tree is of bearing age, by shortening them in.  Do not, however, cut at an arbitrary distance of one inch from the starting point, but rather save one or two buds at whatever distance from the starting point these may be growing.  If the tree is too young to bear, only growth shoots may appear from these buds, but they are likely to be short and will support fruit spurs later.  This practice should not be carried to excess or you will have too many small shoots which will not get light enough to bear good fruit, even if fruit spurs should appear.

Pollination of Black Tartarian.

There are many old Tartarian cherry trees around our district that have only borne a few cherries in years.  There are Bing, Royal Ann and Early Purple Guignes here with these, but they seldom, if ever, bloom with the Tartarian at the proper time to pollinate.  What varieties would cause the trees to bear?

Sterility of the Black Tartarian is rather unusual.  In the coast regions, Bing, Black Tartarian and Early Purple Guigne are all considered pollinizers for the Royal Ann.  Inversely all these should be pollinizers for the Black Tartarian, if that variety requires such assistance, which we have all along supposed that it did not.

Treatment of Fig Suckers.

A few young fig trees are not growing from the tops, but are sending out suckers, in some cases above and others below the point of grafting.  Had I better let these suckers grow and see what comes from them or plant new trees?

Graft near the ground all those which are sending suckers from below the graft.  Suckers from above grafting point can be trained into trees by selecting the best, tying to stakes to straighten up and removing all other suckers but the one selected.

No Gopher-proof Fig Roots.

Is it necessary that figs should be grafted in some other roots to keep the gophers from destroying the trees?  What root should I order?

Figs are not grown on any other than fig roots and are generally propagated by rooted cuttings for the purpose of avoiding the expense of grafting.  The fruit must then be protected by killing the gophers rather than by an effort to get the tree upon a gopher-proof root.

Pollination of Bartletts.

Would Clapp’s Favorite be a good pollinizer for the Bartlett as well as the White Doyenne?

The white Doyenne and the Clapp’s Favorite usually begin to bloom three or four days later than the Bartlett, but the Bartlett period extends about ten days into the blooming period of the others.  Therefore, your question is to be answered in the affirmative; that is, if the Bartlett needs pollination, it will be likley to get it from either of these varieties.

Comice Pears.

Would you plant Comice pears instead of Bartletts, and why?  What is their behavior as to bearing?  Do they require any different treatment than Bartletts?  What roots?  Do they need other varieties for pollinizing?