The Search for the Perfect Late-Season Cherry
Horticulturists in Washington are celebrating the discovery of two new, hardy cherry varieties that could outshine the Bing.
There are two specimens of highly desirable cherries on exhibition at the State Horticultural Rooms in Tacoma, both of which were obtained near Olympia and originated on the Chilson farm as seedlings. One has been named the 'Olympia' and the other 'Chilson's Late.' Their merit consists in the extreme firmness of the flesh and attractive color, resembling the Royal Anne or Napoleon Bigarreau, but with brighter scarlet tints. The flavor is fine, and their lateness of ripening—ordinarily well into September—makes them highly valuable, potentially exceeding the Bing in quality and marketability for canners. Mr. A. J. McMurray, who is promoting the varieties, notes that they are so firm they could hang on the trees for a month if not for the birds.
“The fruit would now easily hang for a month, such is its firmness, were it not for the birds, and when the fruit is seen, one can hardly blame them for knowing a good thing when they see it.”
Washington remains a global leader in cherry production, and the constant search for new, late-ripening varieties continues to drive the state's agricultural economy. The tension between protecting fruit from birds and the desire for late-season harvests is a timeless struggle for orchardists in the Yakima Valley.
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