I have some of the same stuff now on a couple cherry branches. Its canker of some sort, you may have it correct with cytospora canker. You might be able to head that tree low and have it re-grow from below the canker. Another option is to cut it out, start at the wound and work out until there is all clean wood.

Scott

There were 16 out of 100 trees that were affected. They were all the Montmorency cherries, none of the balaton or meteor were affected.

I went ahead and cut them all off low below the last canker. I used alcohol and then dabbed treekote tar on the cut. Hopefully they will come back lower.

Do you think it could have been infected at my place since the first week of april when I planted them, or does that sound like they came infected?

I'm finding in ordering trees, particularly fruit trees on the internet, they invariably have dormant infections and that the dormancy will break at the 1st sign of stress the tree goes through and you will have to toss the tree or as you have done prune and hope.

I am beginning to think buying from a local store like Wal*Mart or such is better because those trees have to look good or they won't sell so they get the better treated trees. Plus you much only go to Wal*Mart (or other local store) to swap out or refund typical up to a year after the tree was bought if you save the killed tree and your receipt.

Compare that with ordering 10 diseased saplings on the internet.