June 2004 ARCHIVES of Andy's Life on
the Farm Shows
June 10th
Black Republicans
This is Andrew Griffin of Mariquita Farm with Life On The Farm. President
Bush might be interested to know he can find thousands of Black Republicans
here on the central coast at Betty Van Dyke's ranch near Gilroy. The
only catch is these Black Republicans are cherries and the President
had better come quick. Cherry season passes quickly. (I think of it
more as cherry " moment". )
Bing cherries are a signature crop for the Van Dykes but they grow
other kinds as well. A Bing cherry will not self pollinate. A grower
must intersperse Bings with a different cultivar, like Black Republican,
for cross pollination. Betty showed me how to recognize a Black Republicans
from its erect habit. The canopy of a Bing is more rounded.
Black Republicans and Bings are related. In 1860, Seth Lewelling, an
orchardist in Oregon expressed pro-Union sentiments by naming a promising
cherry variety the Black Republican. In 1875 Lewelling developed another
new cherry, this one grown out from a Black Republican seed. He called
it the Bing in honor of Bing, his Chinese foreman.
Sometimes it seems that every spring rain portends doom for local cherry
growers so I was happy to hear from Betty that this season is shaping
up well. Van Dyke Bing cherries are at their peak now but for any of
you passing through the Liveoak Farmers market or the Capitola Farmers
market for a taste I have to endorse their local Black Republicans as
well. For K.U.S.P. this is Andrew Griffin.
copyright 2004 Andrew Griffin
These are capers on the bush.
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