Peach culture

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:^iaiffliii5

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^ariiart CoIIrp Itiiraro

GIFT OK

JAMES STURGIS PRAY

CUAJLLEJ) EUOt FR07^:S&OM OF LAf^USCAPE AHjCEITXOTIIKE
JULY II, 1916

To be kept in the main totkction of the
College Librai^

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^ f

i

' PEACH OTJLTUEB.

BT

JAMES ALEXANDEE FXTLTON.

BOTBB, DBL.

hjiTxstbatbd.

NBW, BBYISBD, AND ENLABQED EDITION.

NEW YORK:

ORANGE JUDD COMPANY,

761 BROADWAY.
1882.

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y HARVARD OOLlliE LIBRARY

eirroF

JAMES STUR6IS PRAY ^

BnteTed according to Act of CongreBB, In the year 18F2, by

0RAN6B JUDD & CO.,

In the Clerk's Office of the District Conrt of the United States for the Soathem
District of jMew Yoric

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91. >X

PEEPAOE TO Ttife'iitEW EDITION.

In an occupation so progressive as Peach Culture, a
decade shows many changes. In preparing a new edition
of this work it is found that, what was true as regards
varieties, at tljie time of its publication, must, in order to
give their present status, be essentially modified. In-
deed, the Chapter on Varieties has been almost entirely
re-written, old kinds being omitted and newer ones
brought into prominence. Minor corrections have been
made all through the work, while some matters of interest
to peach-growers are more appropriately given in the
present preface.

At the time when the first edition was published, the
shipment of fruit from California had just commenced ;
it was then suggested that, while the less perishable
fruits, such as grapes, pears, etc., might be sent from
that State by rail, the more delicate peach could not be
transported. The peach is now successfully shipped
from San Francisco to New York, but the cost of trans-
portation is too great to allow it to become a profitable
business. The facilities afiEorded by the Post Office
Department in the cheap and rapid transmission of
plants, cuttings, etc., enable the peach-grower to procure
buds from a distance at a low rate of postage, and for
packages of buds the sending by mail is the preferable
means of transportation.

During the years that have passed since the first ap-
pearance of this work, peach-growers have suffered
greatly from the severity of the winters, notably in 1880-
81, which was the coldest ever recorded in Delaware.
During that season the thermometer marked as low as
18° below zero, and not a single orchard in the State but
3

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4 PEACH CULTTTBB.

suffered more or less. Not only the fruit buds^ but, in
some localities, even the trees themselves were killed.
The few exceptions to the total destruction of the fruit
were along the margins of bodies of water, and were due
to their ameliorating influence. In the season following
this winter, orchards of ten thousand trees did not pro-
duce a single basket of peaches. On the eastern shore of
Chesapeake Bay, in Maryland, in localities nearly sur-
rounded by water, some orchards had a full crop of fruit.
This fact supports the view, expressed in the first edition,
that, other things being equal, the best location for a
peach orchard is the eastern side of a large body of water.

The great increase of the peach trade is shown by the
fact that the shipment from the Peninsula in 1870 was
stated at 2,500,000 baskets. In the abundant year of
1875 the shipment reached over 4,000,000 baskets, and
it is estimated that as many, or moi^, were left on the
trees or under them.

Among the inventions to facilitate the operations of
the peach-grower that have appeared since the first edi-
tion are *^ Peach Cullers." One of these will do the
work of five or six hands ; and as they do it as well, or
better, they have, in large orchards, superseded culling by
hand.

In the first edition, we congratulated ourselves upon the
absence of the Curculio from the Peninsula. This insect,
which had inflicted so much damage elsewhere, had not
thjen appeared m our orchards. This exemption no
longer exists, as the insect has, in some cases, already
done considerable injury. With an abundant crop, the
damage is of little consequence, but its attacks are to be
dreaded when the amount of fnut is small. No more
effective remedies have been suggested than those given
in the body of the work.

April, 1882.

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PREFACE.

Within the last few years, fruit culture, in all its varies
ties, has greatly increased in this country ; so that, to-day,
it is one of the leading interests. Fruit growers' associa-
tions have been formed, and many periodicals established,
to advocate and advance their interests. Their usefulness
has been undoubted, and their success very encouraging.

Amongst the fruits^ the Peachy if not the most, is one
of the most important of all. It is so easily raised, comes
into bearing so soon, and is so delicious, as well as beau-
tiful, it is impossible that it should not be a favorite.

The consequence is that, in the sections specially con-
ducive to its cultivation, almost every farm has an orchard,
and some farms are but one continuous orchard; and
sometimes farm after farm is devoted to peaches. Within
the circle of our own knowledge, the quantity of land
planted in peaches, by individual planters, varies from
five acres to six hundred. Some planters have set as
many as twenty thousand trees in a single season. Or-
chards of twenty, thirty, and fifty acres are not at all in-
frequent.

Living in the very center of the peach-growing district ;
sharing the common intcn'est felt in the subject ; deeply
impressed with its importance to the individual planters
themselves, and also to the community at large ; and be-
lieving that we could do a lasting benefit to both, have
induced us to prepare, and now offer to the public, the
following little treatise on peach culture. Our aim has
been,

5

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6 PBACH OULTUKB.

1. To give plain, simple and specific directions for
rearing the trees ; for planting and cultivating an orchard ;
for gathering and marketing the fruit, with some data
as to its profitableness as a distinct branch of agricalture.

2. To point oat, clearly and distinctly, the impositions
practiced by railroad companies and consignees apon
planters, and the means of redress.

3. To indicate and briefly describe the varieties that
pay, and the way to enable young planters, as well as old
ones, planting new orchards, to select the most profit-
able kinds, and thus benefit the whole community by in-
creasing the productiveness of our farms, and the profits
of our planters.

Our effort has been to make it a hand-book and guide
to every planter, to be used as a student uses his diction-
ary in the acquisition of a language.

TO
HIS EXCELLENCY

aOTEBHOB aOTE SAULSBUBT,

MY ESTEEMEB

FRIEND AND NEIGHBOR,

THIS LITTLE VOLUME IS

RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED

BY

Thb Author.

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CONTENTS.

IirrBODUcnoN Page 9

CHAPTER I.
Site of Nubssbt 29

CHAPTER n.
Seed 81

CHAPTER m.
Seed-Bbo 86

CHAPTER IV.
Pbepabation of Ground fob Nubbbrt 87

CHAPTER V.
Planting THE Seed 40

CHAPTER VI.
NuBSEBT Cultivation 42

CHAPTER Vn.
Buds 44

CHAPTER Vm.
BuiiDiNG 48

CHAPTER IX.
Cultivation of Budb 66

CHAPTER X.
Taking Up and Sending to Mabket 63

CHAPTER XI.
Selecting a Site fob an Obchabd 68

CHAPTER XH.
Planting an Obchabd 72

CHAPTER Xra.
Obchabd Cultivation TO

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8 PEACH CULTURE.

CHAPTER XIV.
CoMme In 86

CHAPTER XV.
Baskets and Crates 87

CHAPTER XVI.
Transfobtation 92

CHAPTER XVn,
Consignees M

CHAPTER XVm
Ladders 99

CHAPTER XIX.
Shifpino 100

CHAPTER XX.
Picking 102

CHAPTER XXI.
Returns 108

CHAPTER XXn.
Markets Ill

CHAPTER XXin.
Profit 112

CHAPTER XXIV.
Culture after a Crop 114

CHAPTER XXV.
Uses 118

CHAPTER XXVI.
Insects and Diseases 122

CHAPTER XXVU.
Special Culture 138

CHAPTER XXVm.
The Peach-House 146

CHAPTER XXIX.
Varieties IfiS

CHAPTER XXX.
Descriptiye Catalogue 167

CHAPTER XXXI.
Fancy Varieties 188

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INTRODUCTION.

In some sectionB of our country, Peaches are a staple
production, and predominant interest, and their cultiva-
tion is very rapidly increasing. In these it is no longer
an experiment, but an established, understood, and suc-
cessful business ; and, like other established interests, is
prosecuted with skill, economy, and profit.

But not so everywhere. New districts are opening up ;
new men are engaging in the business ; thousands of acres
are devoted to peach orchards where none were known
before. The area of the Peach is not only widening, but
is transferring itself to new fields. But the skill neces-
sary to success does not always accompany new enter-
prises. Amateurs, fortune-seekers, and novices of all
kinds, impelled by the love of Nature, in one of her most
beautiful forms, or the hope of fortunes, rapidly gained,
become planters. The end — covering our beautiful hills,
and vales, and plains, with rich, luscious fruits — ^is a noble
and laudable aim. Every one should rejoice at it ; every
one should encourage and aid it. It is a public benefac-
tion. It should enlist our patriotism and benevolence.

But the uninstructed must, necessarily, err. Art is not
the result of instinct, but the product of education. The
unskilled must be instructed ; those who do not know
how, must learn« Peach growing must be learned as well
as other things ; and, although the interest is already im-
mense, and rapidly increasing, yet no practical treatise on
this subject has been published. Planters who have not
had personal experience, have been left to grope in the
dark — to try, fail, and try again. This, in many cases,
bas been expensive ; in some, ruinous ; in all, vexatious.
To avoid this, and to make clear what, to some, at least,
9 1*

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10 PEACH CULTimK.

may be obscure, these pages have been prepared. They
have been written with that view, and for that purpose,
and arc very minute in details, and severely practical in
description.

In this introductory chapter, we propose to speak of
matters of a more general nature ; not, indeed, essential
to success in business, but, nevertheless, interesting, and
useful to the intelligent and cultivated planter.

Most of our large peach growers are gentlemen of
wealth, refinement, and leisure ; many of great social, and
some of high official, position. They have engaged in
this honorable and delightful pursuit not only as a means
of increasing their revenues, but also of gratifying their
rural tastes. In the early spring, the soft and delicate
tints of the peach blossoms gladden the eye, while the
air becomes fragrant with their delightful perftime. In
the high noon of summer. Beauty crowns herself with
Plenty, and dispenses health, wealth, and happiness, in
her flowery way. Thus, flowers and fruit, beauty and
use, are delightfully blended, and the peach plantations
become at once a source of present gratitude and future
hope to their owners.

Such planters will be expected, and should be able, not
only to tell how peaches are grown, and where they are
sold, but also to speak of their origin and history, the
countries in which they flourish, and the latitudes that
limit their production.

In the brief space of an introduction, we can only give
an outline of the subject, which we hope will be useful,
not so much for what it imparts, as for stimulating a de-
sire to know more* To trace the history of the peach,
from its origin to the present day, would be a very inter-
esting and pleasing task, and we cordially commend it
to the many intelligent and public spirited planters on the
Delaware Peninsula, who have both the leisure and abili-
ty to perform it in a manner worthy of the subject.

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INTRODUCnOK. 1 1

The botanical name of the peach is best known as
AmygdcUua Peraica^ though the late authorities unite
the Peach, Apricot, Plum, and Cherry, all in one genus,
under Prunus. For the purposes of the present work,
we retain the older name, AmygdaJus^ which is a genus
of the Natural Order Hoaacece, and under the Linnean
classification, is placed in the class and order Jcosandria
Monogynia, The genus consists of trees or shrubs, with
simple leaves. Calyx with a bell-shaped tube, and five
spreading lobes, deciduous. Petals five, inserted at the
throat of the calyx tube. Stamens numerous, with slen-
der filaments. Pistil solitary, with a single style. Fruit
a fleshy drupe, usually velvety, with a bony putamen, or
stone, much roughened with wrinkles and holes;* the
kernel, or seed, proper, having the flavor of prussic acid.
There are ten species of the genus, the most important of
which are

Amygrdalns Pcrslca.— The Peach. Drupe fleshy, and
indehiscent. Introduced from Persia, but unknown in
the wild state, and is supposed to have originated from
the Almond. The flesh in some varieties readily separates
from the stone (free stones), and in others it adheres with
more or less firmness (clings). A smooth variety, var.
teTlS) is the Nectarine ; a double-flowering one is culti-
vated for ornament, and a variety, with the fruit curi-
ously compressed, is the Flat Peach, of China.

At eommunis. — ^Almond. The drupe dry, and ir-
regularly dehiscent (as it is in all the following species) ;
leaves oblong, lanceolate ; calyx bell-shaped. Tree twenty
or more feet high. Native of Maurtiania, and the moun-
tainous parts of Asia. There are numerous varieties, with
sweet and bitter kernels.

* The Dame Amygdalae has rererence to this character of the stone, U being
derived ttom the Greek word to lacerate.

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12 PEACH CULTUBB.

At Baia* — ^Dwarf Almond. Leaves oblong-linear,
tapered at the base; calyx cylindrically bell-shaped;
firoit, as m A. communis, but smaller ; a low shrub. A
native of Northern Asia, sometimes cultivated in gardens
for its double and white flowered varieties.

A. orieitalis — ^Leaves lanceolate, nearly entire, and
with the small branches silvery-downy. A large shrub ;
a native of the Levant.

A. CochiiehiieiJSiSf — Leaves, ovate, entire, shiny;
flowers, white. A large tree ; a native of Cochin China.

Of the first species, the Peach of the English; the
PicJie of the French; the Pesca of the Italians; the
Peraigo of the Spaniards ; the Penego of the Portuguese,
and the Pfirsich of the Glermans, there are generally reck-
oned two varieties — ^the Peach proper, with downy fruit,
and the Nectarine^ with smooth fruit. There is abundant
evidence that the latter is a mere accidental production
of the former. The general characteristics are identical,
while the difference is but slight, and consists principally
in the presence or absence of the pubescence on the skin.
The Nectarine^ both in tree and fruit, is not so vigorous,
hardy, or durable as the peach ; it is more eaoly affected
by disease, and the attacks of insects ; sheds its fruit more
easily, and oflener fails to produce a crop.

The Pbach is a tree of medium size, with a spreading
head ; long, narrow, lanceolate, and serrate leaves, which
are of a deep green color, until late in the &11, when
they assume a brown or yellow tinge ; flowers, pink and
rose-colored, profuse, and fragrant; fruit, rich, juicy, vinous
and melting, when highly cultivated, but often small,
hard, and bitter, when neglected. For size, quaUty,
productiveness, and value, it may be regarded as the
queen of stone fruits.

The size of the tree varies very much, owing to the dif-
ference in soil, climate, and cultivation. In the cold re-

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INTRODUCTION. 13

gions of the North, it seldom attains a diameter of more
than five or six inches, and a height of fifteen or twenty
feet, while in the generous soil and genial clime of the
South, it frequently grows to the height of thirty feet, or '
even more, and swells to a diameter of eighteen or twenty
inches. We have ourselves seen them of fully this latter
size in Arkansas and Texas ; and in August, 1869, some
old trees were measured on the Delaware Bay and found
to have a girth of nearly six feet.

The tree is supposed to be short-lived, and, except in
a genial soil, may be so regarded. But even in latitude
41° North, it has attained its three-score years, vigorous
in old age, and still producing respectable crops of good
fruit. Such instances, however, are rare. Farther South,
it lives much longer ; and on the Peninsula, and in East-
em Virginia, there are still standing many flourishing
trees, which were planted more than seventy years ago ;
and if they receive the attention they should, it is be-
lieved they will live to be a hundred years old. In
France, there are several well attested cases of trees being
in good condition when over ninety years old. It has
been noted in these cases that the trees all become hollow,
while the shell retains its thrift and vigor. It is also to
be remarked that, in none of these instances does the size
ever approach that attained in our own land ; the largest,
so far as we have observed, not exceeding one foot in
diameter. Eight of these venerable old trees may still be
seen on a terrace wall, at the Chateau de Yilliers, near
Fert^Aleps. They still produce abundantly; and the
gardener affirms that, thirty years ago, when he took
charge of the grounds, they were as large as now. Their
productiveness he attributes to careful pruning. But
what gardener ever doubted but that success was at-
tributable to his skill !

In the transactions of the Horticultural Society of
France, published a few years since, an account of an-

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14 PEACH CULTUUE.

Other remarkable tree was given. It was found in the
grounds of Monsieur Jubert, near Villeneuve, and was
trained on one of the wings of his mansion, which it
nearly covered. It was known, certainly, to be over
ninety-three years old, and believed to be more than one
hundred. It was still in good health and vigor, and pro-
duced good crops regularly. It was carefully pruned
every year. With this exception, it received no special
attention. Notwithstanding its great age, it had only at-
tained a diameter of ten inches a short distance above the
ground — ^not half so great as some of our trees in Dela-
ware, not half so old.

The peach is propagated by seed, by grafting, and by bud-
ding. Propagation from fruit or seed is the natural way, and
the only source of new varieties. Trees produced from seed
are more vigorous, freer from disease, hardier, more certain
bearers, and live longer than when produced by inoccula-
tion ; but as the character of the fruit is uncertain, and the
quality generally inferior, this method has been altogether
discarded, except when new varieties are sought. Although
the peach may be grafted with success, yet it is so tedious
and unsatisfectory, when compared with budding, that it
has been totally abandoned for the latter, which now re-
mains the only means in use for propagating the peach.

The Peach is supposed to be a native of Persia, and its
botanical name refers to that origin. It is known to have
flourished in both Persia and China at a very early period,
and was highly valued in both countries. It has often been
found growing spontaneously in Asiatic Turkey. It is men-
tioned by Pliny, and several other classical writers, and
many anecdotes are related of the veneration and even
superstition with which it was regarded by the Asiatics.
There is no doubt but it was one of the "Trees of
the Garden" which God planted in Eden, and which
were to nourish and cheer our first parents in their
pristine purity and happiness. . It is not mentioned in

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INTRODUCTION. 15

the Bible, but it8 congener, the almond, is mentioned sev-
eral times, and as early as the days of Jacob. And
we find, when he was preparing his present for the
Governor of Egypt, he commanded his sons to take
** myrrh, nuts, and almonds^^ as a gift, showing the
esteem in which it was then held. Again, in the di-
rections for making the golden candlestick, among the
ornaments, the myrtle and almond are mentioned as of
the chief.

The Peach, like civilization itself, traveled from this
centre Westward into Europe, and we find it mentioned
in Roman history in the reign of the Emperor Claudius.
It was highly valued by the patricians of Rome, and was
cultivated by them as one of their choicest luxuries. It
is still a standard tree in Italy.

It was introduced into. England from Italy, about the
middle of the sixteenth century, and has been cultivated
there as an exotic ever since. Her cool, moist climate,
however, prevents its general cultivation, and it is only
grown on walls or under glass, and the fruit is seldom
seen except on the tables of the aristocracy.

Even in France, where the climate is much milder, it is
not always reared without protection, and the fruit has
never gone into general use, but is a delicacy confined to
the wealthy alone, the cultivation being confined princi-
pally to gardens.

In China it is extensively cultivated in the gardens of
the rich, and has attained an extraordinary size. But of
their manner of propagation and culture but little is yet
known, owing to the exclusive policy heretofore pursued
by that ancient Empire. Now, since its amelioration,
among the many other benefits hoped for, a more accu-
rate and complete knowledge of the peach is one. The
Chinese are great gardeners, and much affect the curious
in horticultural as in other arts, and we may expect to
learn much that is interesting, if not useful. We know

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16 PKACH CULTURS.

already that they produce peaches of very large size, and
two, at least, of rare shape, — ^the Chinese Flat, and Crooked
Peach. With this beginning, we will not be surprised at
still more carious developments. The curiosity, ingenuity,
and enterprise of our countrymen will soon discover
whatever may be known.

It is to our credit that the United States is the only
country in the world that, either in ancient or modern
times, has produced peaches in sufficient quantities to al-
low them to become a common marketable commodity ;
so cheap that the poor, as well as the rich, may regale
themselves and their families with one of the most whole-
some and delicious of fruits at a very small expense, and
with every prospect that they will still be more abund-
ant and cheap. While these pages are being written,
peaches are selling in the New York market for thirty-
five and seventy-five cents a basket ; and the receipts
vary from fifty to one hundred and sixty thousand bas^
kets per day.

While the Peach can be successfully cultivated in the
United States, out-oMoors, anywhere south of 42° North
latitude, and under an altitude of nine thousand feet, yet
it is not a sure crop north of 40°. But south of this, even
to Florida and Texas, it flourishes with the greatest luxu-
riance. Still there are some localities and sections that,
owing to their peculiar topography and soil, are much
better suited to this fruit than others. First amongst
these stands the Delaware Peninsula^ embracing the State
of Delaware, and the eastern shore of Maryland and Vir-
ginia, a territory of about six thousand square miles.
Within these limits it is believed more peaches are pro-
duced than in any other of the same extent anywhere.
The centre of this peach-producing region is Kent County,
Delaware, which produces more peaches, and of better
quality, than any other territory of the same size in the
world.

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INTEODUCnOK. 17

With an area of six hundred square miles, or three
hundred and eighty-four thousand acres, she will send to
market the present season, 1869, about one million
baskets. The estimate made for her by the PeninstUa
Fruit QrovQcrff Association^ on the 18th of May,
1869, was six hundred and twenty-five thousand
baskets ; but now, August 12th, in the midst of the pick-
ing season, it is manifest that that estimate is much too
low. It is here the largest orchards, as well as the finest
fruit, are found. One planter, within a short distance of
Dover, has six hundred acres of peach orchard. Many
others have from ten to twenty thousand trees, and often
ship from ten to fifteen hundred baskets a day.

In New Castle County, adjoining, there are some very
fine orchards, and great and special care is taken in their
cultivation. Fine, erect trees, head rows nicely trinmied,
and a smooth, clean surface, attest the taste and care of
their proprietors. It is a pleasure to look at them. But
the soil is a little too heavy, and the climate a shade colder
than in Kent ; and, consequently, the peaches do not come
in so early, crops oftener miss, and the cultivation is not
quite so much a success. The three great shipping points
of this county are Odessa, Middletown, and Townsend,
from all of which large quantities of beautiful and deli-
cious fruit are shipped.

In Sussex County, just south of Kent, the extensive
cultivation of the peach is but of recent date. The soil
is lighter, which will tend to advance the maturity of the
fruit as well as the tree, and thus enable planters to put
their peaches into market several days earlier, than in
Kent and New Castle, which is a considerable advantage.
Several new railroads have been completed within her
borders during the present year, which will afford her
greater facilities to get to market, and stimulate still fur-
ther this great and greatly increasing interest.

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18 PBACH CIJXTUBB.

The prospects now are that, in a few years, Sussex County
will rival Kent in the extent and value of her peach crop.

The Maryland counties lying contiguous are also in-
creasing their peach area; and, in consequence of the
completion of several branch railroads, peach growing
will receive a strong impetus. Their soil and climate are
in all respects well adapted to the production of this de-
licious fruit.

The two Virginia counties on the eastern shore possess
equal natural advantages, but the want of railroad facili-
ties has heretofore prevented them from availing them-
selves of such to the same extent as their neighbors.

There can be no doubt that the Delaware Peninmla
alone, has capacity to produce peaches enough to supply
Pennsylvania, New York, New England, and Canada.

The crop of the Peninsula for 1869 has been estimated
as high as four million baskets, but we think this too high.
It has certainly been three millions, or more ; perhaps three
and a half This estimate is made principally from actual
statistics. The railroad carried 2,115,500; the steamers,
from Mahon, about 300,000 ; fix)m other points, probably
800,000 ; in aU, 3,215,500.

New Jersey was the first to engage in peach culture ex-
tensively, and for export, and, for many years, took the
lead. But, more recently, she has nearly abandoned the
business, except in a few localities. Several causes have
contributed to this result. One of these has been the
prevalence of the Tettows, which has ravaged her beauti-
fril orchards with remorseless fury. This fatal disease
seems not only to be epidemic there, but localized, and
chronic. Touug orchards are attacked almost as soon as
they come into bearing, and are generally worthless after
the second crop.

Another is, that the cultivation of small fruits, such as
strawberries, raspberries, and blackberries, has been found

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INTRODUCTION. 19

mncb more profitable, as well as the returns quicker, and
thousands of acres have been given to them.

Still another is, that the richer soil, milder climate,
earlier maturity, and finer fruit of the Peninsula, have
rendered competition useless in this branch of agricul-
ture. The result is, that she has wisely abandoned peach
culture, as a leading interest, and devoted herself dili-
gently to berries, in whicli she has been eminently suc-
cessful. Her crop of peaches now, even in a good season,
does not exceed two hundred thousand baskets. It is
sold in New York and Philadelphia.

Ohio ranks high as a peach growing State. Along the
lake shore, on the sand-stone hills of the Ohio river, and
on the uplands of the Miami valley, large quantities of
peaches are raised. Thin land, and high ridges, suit best.
The orchards are generally small, — ^not exceeding two
thousand trees, and seldom half so many. The trees
commence bearing, if the season be favorable, the third
year, and average two or three crops. The average pio-
duction is about half a bushel to a tree. The fruitful
seasons are generally five or six in a period of ten years.
Much of the fruit is shipped to Cincinnati, Cleveland, and
other points. It is usually sent in bushel boxes. The
price varies very much, as it does everywhere. Fifty
cents to four dollars per bushel may be set down as the
extremes, and the net returns to the planter fi-om naught
to two dollars — the earliest and latest varieties being the
, most profitable. The crop of 1867 was very large, and
was returned by the assessors of internal revenue for that
year at an aggregate of 1,450,000 bushels. Our private in-
formation leads us to believe this an over estimate. In 1869,
it is set down at 599,499 bushels. There is no doubt but
that it may be greatly increased ; but were it double what
it is, it could all be consumed within the limits of the
State and a few neighboring cities. In addition to the

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20 PEACH CtTLTURB.

borer and yelhtes^ the planter has to contend with the
cierculio^ which is much more injarions and troablesome.

In no part of the world, perhaps, is the ameliorating
influence of large bodies of water on temperature more
distinctly marked than in Michigan. This State, with the
exception of a narrow strip on her southern border, not
exceeding twenty miles wide, lies north of forty-two
north latitude. The northern limits of Ohio and Indiana
bound her on the south. She is north of Omaha, Des
Moines, Toledo, Cleveland, Pittsburg, Philadelphia, and
New Tork ; and a parallel line, extended from her centre,
eastward, would cut through Canada, New York, Ver-
mont, New Hampshire, Maine, and Nova Scotia; and
westward, through Wisconsin, Minnesota, Dakota, Idaho,
and Oregon. Tet, notwithstanding all this, she stands in
the front rank of fruit growing States, and competes with
Ohio and California in the production of peaches/ Her
success in the cultivation of this fruit is wonderful, and,
it is believed, altogether unprecedented in the same high
latitude. But a satisfactory explanation is found in her
happy geographical position, which is as unique as her
productions are remarkable. She is almost surrounded
by fOiUerl The great lake, whose name she bears, covers
her on the west and north-west, as with a blanket, and soft-
ens the dry piercing winds of those regions, until they
become moist and almost balmy. Lake Huron performs
the same kind office for her on the north and north-east ;
while Erie supplements the good work on the south-east.
These lakes are inmiense bodies of water, hundreds of
miles long, and about a hundred wide, and from a hundred
and fifty to a thousand feet deep, and the climatic influence
they exert is wonderM and highly beneficial. Hence it is
that Michigan, lying between 42° and 45°, ranks as a first
class fruit producing State, and can successfrilly compete
with Ohio and California in the production of peaches.

Her last crop was reported at seven hundred and fifty-

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INTRODUCTION. 21

one thousand six hundred and twenty-eight baskets, valu-
ed at seyenty-five cents a basket, or five hundred and six-
ty-three thousand seven hundred and twenty-two dollars,
in the aggregate.

The sandy lands of the western shore are found to be
best for peach culture; and both land and water here
combine to produce, in great excellence, this delicious
fruit. The close proximity of Chicago and Milwaukee
affords a good and convenient market for the planters in
the west; and Detroit, Toledo, and Cleveland ft>r those in
the east.

In Southern Illinois the Peach does very well. In the
north it is too cold. Thin soils, hills, ridges, and light
prairies do best, as the uplands about Alton, and prairies
in the neighborhood of Centralia. The average production
per tree is about half a bushel.

The fruit is principally shipped to Chicago, St. Louis,
Cincinnati, and some other minor pointa

We have been unable to obtain reliable information
either in regard to the quantity produced or the special
culture ; but it is 1)elieved to be almost identical with that
of Ohio.

Peaches are also cultivated to some extent in Indiana ;
more especially in the south-west, and on the shores of Lake
Michigan in the north. Most of the fruit, however, is
consumed at home. It has never attracted much atten-
tion, or elicited any decided effort. Her clay lands, and,
in some places, springy soil, seem to forbid the successful
I cultivation of the Peach. In special localities it could no
doubt, be made remunerative ; and, to some extent, has
been.

Kentucky has a more congenial soil and climate, which
ought to command complete success ; yet it has never be-
come a leading pursuit. This may be, in part, attributable
to her great capacity and success in com and stock rais-
ing, and in part to early bias, strengthened and confirmed

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22 PBACH CULTURE.

into babitnal tendency. Portions of the State are eminently
adapted to peach growing, while her proximity to good
markets, with great &oili1ie8, both by bnd and water, to
reach them, are strong incentives to engage in this delight-
ful rural pursuit. Peach culture, however, in Kentucky, is
confined principally to the borders on the Ohio river, and
the vicinity of Cincinnati and Louisville. Along the Ohio
very little is raised for market, but much for home con-
sumption ; while in the neighborhood of Louisville, enough
is raised to supply the city, and some for export.

Very fine peaches are raised in Missouri, especially on
the hills and near rivers. Other interests have hitherto
engaged the attention and efforts of her people ; but witb
a climate and soil so kind, transportation so easy and
cheap, and markets so near and good, she cannot much
longer refrain from engaging extensively in this delightful
pursuit ; and before years have elapsed, we will not be
surprised to see Missouri take a prominent position in
Peach Culture. She already ranks high as a wine grow-
ing State.

Her sister Kansas has already distinguished herself for
the variety, beauty, and excellency of her fruit, as well as
the interest and enterprise she has shown in its culture.

At the great National Exhibition at Philadelphia in
1869, few displays were more admired or conmiended
than hers; and her peaches were especially attractive.
For a young State she has shown very commendable
zeal, as well as progress.

In Arkansas and Texas peaches do well, and the trees
attain an enormous size. But the cultivation receives but
little attention ; the orchards are small, and the aggregate
number of trees inconsiderable.

This is partly owing to the want of knowledge, and
consequent indifference, on the part of the people ; but
principally to the want of good markets and easy access

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INTBODUCnON.

23

to them, whereby the cultare might be made profitable.
When these are aJBTorded, it will no doubt increase.

Along the Atlantic slope, from Sandy Hook to Cape
Sable, there is scarcely a district in which the Peach does
not flourish.

Of New Jersey, Delaware, and Maryland, we have al-
ready spoken. The remaining Atlantic States, without
exception, produce peaches, and of great excellence. But
the culture has languished from the same cause, but not
to the same degree, as that operating in Arkansas and
Texas, the want of a convenient market and cheap trans-
poii;ation. They have no great cities at band, with their
swarming millions, to consume their surplus ; hence the
cultivation has been confined to a sufficiency for home use.

But the recent and rapid extension of railroad facilities,
has given a new impetus to this branch of agriculture ;
.and within the last three years, it is believed at least two
hundred thousand trees have been planted on the Atlantic
slope south of Maryland. Most of these, perhaps four-
fifths, have been planted in Virginia and JSTorth Carolina.

In the latter, one company have set from eighty thous-
and to one hundred thousand trees.

In Georgia, Alabama, and Florida, they grow luxuri-
antly, although they have not yet received special atten-
tion, having been overshadowed by other interests.

Virginia may be regarded as the mother of Peaches as
well as of Presidents, for, for more than half a century
she was the principal peach grower of the Union ; and
while Pennsylvania and New Jersey were cultivating a
few trees in fence rows and gardens, she had large and
flourishing orchards, numbering thousands of trees. The
seed was brought from England by the early settlers, and
found here a much more congenial soil and clime than in
the mother country. Indeed, it is worthy of remark, that
almost every variety brought fi-om England does better

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24 JPBACH CULTUUB.

here than there ; while those taken fix>m here, do worse.
The reason is found in the difference of soil and climate.

Fifty years ago, peaches, in Virginia, were raised prin-
cipally for distillation, and from them was made a strong,
but pure, spiiit, called Peach Brandy^ a very popular
diink, and, perhaps, as harmless as any of its class. In
the peach districts, every neighborhood had its distillery,
as every one had its mill, and the surrounding planters
either got their fruit distilled on shares, or sold it to the
owner of a still. In the latter case, the usual price was
twelve and a half cents per bushely and good brandy
could be bought at prices ranging from twenty to fifty
cents per gallon ! But that was before internal revenue
officers were known, and before the producer had to pay
a tenth or more of all he made to the ta< gatherer. In
those halcyon days, what a man made was his own, and
he was allowed to enjoy it without fear of having to
share it with strangers who had not assisted in its pro-
duction.

But peaches increased, while brandy drinking decreased,
and their cultivation ceased to be profitable. Hence, it
was almost abandoned, except for home use, and Virginia
fell far behind New Jersey and Delaware as a peach grow-
ing State. But the same causes that are operating in the
States further south of her, influence her also ; and it is
believed that, in a very few years, she will again place
herself in the front rank of producers.

In 'New England the Peach does not do well, and is
but little cultivated. Her soil is not the best, but the
most serious obstacles are found in her long, severe winters,
and cold, moist, north-easterly winds, which must always
prevent its general or extensive cultivation. But in pro-
tected situations, on the south sides of warm walls, under
glass, and in pots, it is successfully cultivated as a choice
luxury^ And in this, as in other exotics, art and perse-
verance compel nature to yield her choicest sweets. It is

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INTBODUCmON. 25

remarked here, as in other parts of the country, that the
Peach does not succeed as well as formerly; oftener fails to
produce a crop, and is more liable to disease and insects.
This deterioration, as elsewhere, is attributed to various
causes, but the more common opinion seems to be that it
is due to climatic modifications. In the absence of satis-
factory data, we are inclined to believe that, in all cases,
it was owing more to the change in aliments of the soil
than anything else. In new lands, where vegetable mould
woe abundanty we haoe never known the Peach to fail.
If the same plant-food could be continuously furnished,
we doubt not the same vigor would characterize the tree,
and the same crops would be produced. But truly, much
is yet to be learned in regard to the Peach. Many crude
and fantastic notions have been entertained and advanced
in regard to it. A single incident, some fortuitous cir-
cumstance it may be, has fixed a thought in the mind, and
this has produced a theory which has been advanced, ad-
vocated, disseminated, and reiterated until it has grown
into a popular fallacy. Half a century ago, Mr. Thomas
Coulter, of Bedford, Pennsylvania, insisted that the only
successful way to obtain a good, healthy peach orchard,
was to cut down the trees when three years old — just be-
fore coming-in — then let the sprouts grow up all around
the old stnmp until they should come into bearing, three
years after, when they would naturally be reduced to
about half a dozen young, thrifty, and productive trees !
Unique and peculiar as this system was, it found many
advocates, and Was gravely and elaborately supported in
erudite treatises !

On the Pacific coast, the Peach, like almost every other
fruit, finds a congenial home, and is extensively culti-
vated even as far north as Oregon. But California, that
wonderftil land of surpassing richness, not only in gold
and silver, and precious stones, but in silk, wheat and
wine, and oranges, and pomegranates, and apples, and

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26 PEACH CULTURE.

pears, also produces ^^eacAe^ in large and increasing quan-
tities. Here the peach comes in much sooner than is
known elsewhere ; it is even asserted that a seed, sown at
the proper season, will produce fruit in eighteen months,
while the ordinary time is no more than two years.

Until recently its cultivation has received but little at-
tention. The want of a near and profitable market, the
perishable nature of the fruit itself, the superior keeping
qualities of others; the leading interest of the mines, and
the high price of labor, naturally and necessarily retarded
Peach Culture. But now, since the introduction of Chinese
labor, the completion of the Pacific railroad, the reduction
of the profits of wine making, grain growing, and mining,
a new impetus has been given to this beautiful and gener-
ally profitable branch of industry, and it is likely soon to
become an important, though not a leading interest. For,
although the productive capacity is almost unlimited, the
market is confined to home consumption and a few points
in the interior along the line of the railroad. And while
apples, oranges, grapes, and even pears may be shipped to
eastern markets, the peach never can, until some new
method of preserving its freshness has been discovered.

This obstacle to its extended cultivation may, to
some extent at least, be obviated by canning the fruit /
and, if new markets could be made in South America,
China and Japan for this American luxury, the business
might become very profitable.

Notwithstanding, however, all counteracting influence,
the soil and climate are so conducive, that large quantities
are produced annually ; and the number of trees now
planted is stated to be 800,000, which are distributed
among thirteen counties as follows : Sacramento, 74,000 ;
Santa Clara, 70,000; El Dorado, 56,000; Sonoma, 52,000;
San Joaquin, 45,000 ; Butte, 40,000. The seven counties
to wit : Napa, Placer, Toulumne, Colusa, Almador, Yolo,

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INTBODUCOTON. »7

and Yuba, have from twenty to thirty thousand respec-
tively.

Although the climate of Oregon is not too cold for the
Peach, it is too humid, except in the southern part, and
in some topographically fortunate localities where it suc-
ceeds well.

Ill 1869, a gentleman in the Walla Walla Valley writes,
that he raised a thousand bushels of fine peaches off an
orchard of five acres planted six years before. If this is
reliable, and is to be taken as an average yield, it surpass-
es even the best orchards of the East. But we incline to
the opinion that the circumstances were unusually happy,
or that the statement is slightly exaggerated.

This brief, and somewhat hasty, view of the Peach Cul-
ture, is still sufiicient to show the wonderful capacity of
our countiy for its production in rare excellence, and with
the least possible labor or care. While the people of less
favored regions have to prepare, if not make, a soil, pro-
vide a shelter, and labor, and watch, and wait for a scanty
crop of small and inferior fruit, the citizens of our most
highly favored land have millions upon millions of acres of
the most suitable soil, where the trees grow luxuriantly and
bear bountifully, in a few years, almost without care, and
without any shelter, except the starry canopy of a benig-
nant sky which our Heavenly Father's love has spread
over us all.

What a wonderful land we have ! Mountains and val-
leys, and plains ; rivers, and lakes, and seas ; wheat, and
figs, and oranges, and pomegranates ; apples, and pears,
and peaches ; corn, and oats ; milk, and oil, and wine ; flax
and wool, and silk ; coal, and iron, and copper ; and silver,
and gold, and precious stones ! And free to enjoy them
all ! None to molest or make us afraid ! What a spectacle
of munificence and power! What a wonderful display of
divine goodness ! Can we do aught else than exclaim with
the Royal Psalmist of Israel, '* Oh, that men would praise

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28 I PIBACH CULTUBS.

the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderM works to
the children of men ! "

Sad thought that, through our ingratitude, folly, and
sin we may turn this cup of blessing and happiness into
one of misfortune and misery ! But let us hope and pray
for the continued favor of Him who '* doeth all things
well ; " and let each strive individually to discharge his
own appropriate duty ; and so live that he may join with
a good conscience in this beautiful and solemn invocation :

** O be Thou still our ^aardUn God ;
Preserve these States from every foe ;
From party n^e^ from scenes of blood,
From sId, and every cause of woe.

Here m:iy the great Redeemer reiipi.
Display his grace and savim;^ power ;
Here liberty and truth maintain,
Till empires fall to rise no more."

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6ITB OF NUBSEBT. »V

CHAPTER L

SITE OP NURSERY.

' As much of the success of the nursery will depend
upon the ground, the greatest care should be exercised in
its selection. In most of the Southeni States, and especial-
ly on the Delaware Peninsula, south of the Delaware and
Chesapeake Canal, no difficulty will be met in obtaining a
suitable site, as nearly every farm has a field or more in
which a very eligible one may be found. But further
north and west good sites are not so common. Still, it is
believed there are but few, sections, or even localities, in
which, by a little care, good ones may not be had. The
land should be dry. All that holds water should be re-
jected, because, first, it will retard planting and cultiva-
tion, and render the latter much more difficult and ex-
pensive. Secondly, the seed will be longer in coming up,
and, if the season should be late and cold, much of it
may rot.

It should not only be dry^ but it should be lights and
warm. A sandy soil is in every way to be preferred.
The peach seems to delight in it. It accelerates maturity
and fructification. Clay soil is not suitable. It is too
stiff; it is hard to till ; it is too retentive of moisture ; it
bakes, and becomes lumpy, and it should be rejected
without hesitation, unless no other can be had. Gravelly
soil is better, and, if naturally good, or artificially en-
riched, will answer. The rich alluvials of our river bot-
toms do very well ; and when a rapid and vigorous growth,
and large, showy trees are desired, are excellent ; but we
do not commend them, especially if the trees are not to
be set in an orchard where the land is equally good ; for
if the growth has been too much stimulated, and the trees
become too large, it will be more of an injury than bene-

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30 PEACH CTTLTURK.

fit The soil in the orchard should rather be superior
than inferior to that of the nursery, and then the growth
will receive no check in transplanting. Planters will
promote their own interests by noting this, and acting
upon it. A good roadster is not obtained by stufiiug the
colt and starving the horse.

For the sake of straight rows and uniformity of trees,
and ease, convenience, and satisfaction of cultivation, the
ground diould be levd. It should also be free from rootS^
stoneSy and other extraneous matter. Every inch of
ground is wanted, and the cultivator can ill afford to have
any part of his nui-sery taken up with roots or stones.
Besides, they greatly interfere with the tillage, and often
ruin a tree by accidentally striking off the bud. Com
stubble, or other land cultivated the preceding season, in
hill or drill crop, is best ; for, if the cultivation has been
good, it will be clean and mellow, the very thing for the
ground-work of a good nursery.

If the object be to rear trees for market, a site easy of
access, on a public road, and near a depot, should be se-
lected. This will prove very convenient and advantage-
ous. Out-of-the-way places, and those beyond gates and
bars, will be expensive. Hands have to be employed,
time has to be consumed, delays ensue. All these involve
outlay, diminish profits, and injure business. Discard
them by seeking a location just at hand. You may have
to pay more rent, but that, compared with the subse-
quently increased incidental expenses, is nothing. Our
advice is, be just in the proper place if you intend to
siceceed. Such a location, besides its convenience, will be
an advertisement— a very striking one, and a very widely
disseminated one. If the nursery is a fine one, it will
elicit general remark and commendation, which will prove
highly advantageous to the proprietor. This is especially
true in the neighborhood of towns, where people are pass-
ing and repassing continually, and where the very sight

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SBBD. 31

of fine trees is an incitement to plant an orchard, as well
as a recommendation of the trees tfeeijaselves. We could
give instances of large and profitable salgff,-^ceferable to
location alone. - — v.

A planter who intends rearing merely for his own use,
will not be influenced by these considerations, and will
consult his taste or special convenience.

In selecting a site for a nursery then, let it be a dry,
light sandy soil, free from stones, and easy of access.

CHAPTER n.

SEED.

The seed should be selected with great care. A nus-
take here is radical, and cannot be corrected afterwards,
as some others can. It is even more important to have
good peach seed than good seed wheat or corn ; for, in
the case of peaches, the orchard is to last for ten, fifteen,
or even twenty years, while in that of wheat or corn it i$
only for a single season. In the latter, one crop only is
injured ; in the former, ten, or a score. The seed should
be healthy. The least appearance of disease in the trees
should decide every prudent man to reject the seed of
those trees when selecting for himself, and every honest
one when selecting to sell. For if diseased seed be used,
the young tree will not only be feeble and sickly, but the
disease will most probably be disseminated in all direc-
tions, and communicate4 to other trees, and thus incalcula*
•ble injury be done. Indeed, the man who sells promiscu-
lously a drove of cattle infected with linderpest, does
not do half so much injury as the one who disseminates
diseased peach trees.

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8d PBACH CULTUKS,

No seed, therefore, should be taken from an orchard
that is diseased ; bat especially none from any orchard in-
fected in the least with the yellows^ as this is, perhaps, the
most contagious and unmanageable of aU diseases inci-
dent to peach culture. It should also be ripe fruU ; for,
while the seed of an immature peach may not actually
communicate disease to the young tree, yet it will most
likely produce a feeble stock, predisposed to disease and
short life.

The seed should be of natural fruit. It is more vigor-
ous, more hardy, more certain to germinate, and the trees
live longer. This should never be overlooked by any
planter who wishes the full reward of his labor. The
seed of budded fruit will grow, it is true, but it is not so
certain to do so. The kernels are oflen diseased or de-
fective; hardly ever so firm, round, and nutty as the
natural ones. The first effort of nature seems to be the
reproduction and perpetuation of the tree in health and
vigor ; that of art the production of fruit of the richest
flavor and most delicate beauty. Both, in perfection,
seem unattainable in one tree. If we want highly vigor-
ous and long-lived trees, we must never bud or graft;
but if we wish rich, luscious fruit, we must do both. But,
as a liealthy, vigorous tree is essential to the production
of the finest fruit, we must stiive for this also. Happily, the
art of budding enables us to approximate both ; but they
can only be produced by a constant repetition of innocu-
lation on natural stocks. Hence, we must plant natural
seed in order to obtain a healthy, vigorous tree, and bud
on it an ingrafted cion, that we may have large, rich,
and beautiful fruit. And we may just as well expect fine
fruit from repeatedly planting natural seed, as fine trees
from planting budded seed. An honest dealer will not,
of course, sell the seed of budded fruit for natural ; but a
little observation and experience will enable any one to
judge for himself and avoid imposition*

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8BED. 88

111 buying seed, if the purchaser is inexperienced, he
should call in the aid of some friend who has experience
and knowledge in the matter. If he has to rely upon
himself, a hint or two may be of advantage to him.
Natural seed, then, is smaller than that of budded fruit.
This is the rule. There may be some varieties which
form exceptions, but they are not numerous. Hale's Early
is one.

The natural seed is alsoof^atrer color. The natural
may be called light^mcn^ or hazel^ the budded, dark*
broteriy or maroon. This difference is not always apparent
to the unpracticed eye, but a dealer or nurseryman will
detect it in an instant ; and any one will soon be able to
do so by comparing a few samples of each. The shell is
also closer grained^ and the howh or cavities smaller in
the natural than in the budded. They are also cleaner.
In the budded fruit there often adheres a small quantity
of the luscious juice or pulp to the pits ; this cleaves to
the walls of the cavities, and is plainly discemable by
close inspection. It also tends to give a darker shade to
the color. The natural seed is also distinguished by thjB
fineness of the union of the two halves or valves of the
stone. It is very close and tenacious, while in the budded
it is often impeifect and slight. In the former, a separa-
tion of the two valves, without fracture, is almost im-
practicable, while in the latter it is often quite easy. In
one case a hammer, in the other a knife, wUl be required.
There is also nearly as much difference in the kernels.
Those of the natural seed are quite hard, close, and nutty,
as compact as a filbert, while the others are often defect-
ive in form, and the two complementary halves of which
they are formed frequently separate in handling, or may
be separated by slight effort. Attention to these tests
will enable anyone to distinguish the seed of natural,
from that of budded fruit.

In former times, when nearly all our peaches were nat-
2^

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84 PXACH CVLTUBX.

ural fruit, there was no difficulty in obtaining seed ; bnt
in late years nearly all our old orchards of natural fruit
have been abandoned and allowed to go into decay.
Besides this, the cultivation of the peach has been so
much extended, and the demand for seed so much in-
creased, that it has become comparatively scarce. And
while it used to be procured at almost a nominal price,
say twenty-five cents a bushel, it now conunands as much
as wheat, and sometimes more. We are not aware of
any place where orchards of natural fruit are maintained
for the specific purpose of producing seed. That has not
yet become necessary. In several of the States, especially
in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, and
Virginia, there are still remnants of old orchards, isolated
rows, or scattering trees of natural fniit, which are toler-
ated as relics of the past, or cherished as reminiscences
of youthfiil pleasures and enjoyments, recalling the mem-
ories of a revered ancestry. From these old trees,
broken down and renewed, perhaps a dozen times, comes
our good seed, which is to furnish excellent stocks for our
young, broad, and numerous orchards of later days.
Besides these, in many nurseries a natural tree will spring
up, escape detection, be shipped, and planted with the
budded ones, and never discovered until in bearing ; then
pity lets it stand ; and it, too, furnishes more good seed.
This seed is saved by the children or tenants of the plant-
ers, taken to the nearest store, and thus finds its way to
market. Honest men, whether planters or merchants,
deal in no other ; but the love of gain is so strong in many
as to induce them to offer and buy the seed of the budded
fruit, and large quantities of it get into market, where it is
re-purchased by ignorant or reckless nurserymen and plant-
ed ; and thus thousands of inferior or diseased trees are
scattered over the country, to bring loss and disappoint-
ment, where fortune and satisfaction would otherwise have
attended. Hence, the great importance of nurserymen

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SEED. 35

selecting good seed ; but especially of planters either rais-
ing their own trees, or buying only from those they know
to be cai-eful, intelligent, and honest. There are such, we
know, and Ave are also sorry to know that there are some
who are not such. Each class pursues its own course in
the procurement of the seed. The one gives an order for
so many bushels, for which a certain price will be paid ;
the order is filled Avith such seed as can be procured at
the price, leaving a margin for profit to the factor. The
other employs local agents in sections in which good seed
is known to abound, with instructions to purchase nothing
but pure seed. When the time arrives for collecting it,
the foreman, or some other reliable practical man, is sent
to inspect it, and all that is not first-rate is rejected. In
this way the nurseryman's reputation is established, and
his business becomes large, profitable, and permanent.

The greater part of seed for the Eastern markets is ob-
tained in the eastern shore counties of Maryland and
Virginia, especially in the latter, where the old natural
orchards have not yet given place to those of budded fruit.

The price of good seed varies from fifty cents to five
dollars per bushel, according to locality and the abund-
ance of the peach crop. About two dollars is the ordi-
nary price.

It requires from five to twelve bushels of seed to the
acre, according as the nurseryman plants it, closely or
widely. In the North they usually plant from seven to
ten inches apart, while on the Peninsula only two and a
half and three. In the latter they expect to, and do, rear
from ten to twelve thousand first-class trees to the acre.

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M ^SACH OULTUBB.

CHAPTER m.

SEED-BED.

The proper time to prepare the seed-bed is just before
freezing sets in in the ML Some convenient spot in the
garden or field is selected. It should be free from roots
or stones, and is the better for having been cultivated in
com or vegetables the season before. It should be dry
land, that is, free from standing water during the winter
in which the seed is to remain in the ground.

When a suitable spot has been selected, the next thing
is to mark it off. . It may be of any size desired. If the
nursery is to be a large one, the more, of course, will be
required. When this is done, the seed is thickly spread
over the ground, about three inches deep. It is then
** spaded in." This is done by spading the ground cover-
ed by the seed in the same manner as is usual in garden
culture, and is usually about six inches deep. By this
method the seed is completely mixed with, and covered
up in the soil. Some is carried nearly or quite to the
bottom of the stirred ground, and the rest is pretty well
distributed between that and the surface. Here it lies
freezing and thawing all winter, and by spring the shells
are so far loosened as to be readily separated by a slight
effort, or even in handling. The kernels will be found to
be swollen, and many of them sprouted. They are now
ready to be planted in the nursery.

Another method is to spread the seed on the surface of
the ground, cover it over with sawdust or spent tan bark,
from three to five inches, and leave it to the weather, as
before. This method is not so common as the first, but
we believe it equally good, and not quite so laborious.
Others, again, spread the bed over with the seed, then
cover it about an inch deep with mold, then another layer

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PBEPABATION OF 6BOUND FOB NtTBSSBY. 37

of seed, and so on, in alternate layers, until all is bedded ;
and this they claim is the best method of alL Some make
no seed-bed at all, but plant the seed at first in the nurs-
ery. This method we shall speak of again when we come
to treat of the nursery.

CHAPTER IV.

PREPARA.TION OF GROUND FOR NURSERY.

This is simple, but it should be done with skill and care.
The form should be a square or a parallelogram, and it
is immaterial which. These forms are preferable, because
the nurseryman wishes to avoid point rotoa, and they are
the only ones that enable him to do so. The advantage
of even rows is found in fewer turns in preparing and cul-
tivating the ground, less injury to the trees, and a conse-
quent saving of both time and money.

To secure this, the plat should be squared or staked off
with the parallel lines running east and west at right
angles with those running north and south. In this way
there will be no lost ground nor point rows. The next
thing is to plow the ground. This should be done in the
spring, as soon as it is in good order — ^about the same
time as for corp. Plowing should be thorough, and about
the ordinary depth. From six to eight inches will do very
well. The furrows should not be too wide ; they should
be rather within than beyond the average. They should
be of uniform width and depth. By observing these
rules, complete pulverization and a very smooth surface
will be attained.

The next thing is the harrowing. The ordinary drag
is the proper implemept If the ground is of the char-

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38

PBACH CTJLTUBE.

acter we have been desci^ibing as suitable, once or twice
over will be sufficieut If stiff or cloddy, more will be
required. In any case, all the lumps should be completely
broken, and if any chips, roots, or stones, show themselves
on the surface, they should be gathered up and carried off.
The ground should now be rolled with a good, heavy

wooden or metal roller.
This will thoroughly crush
any remaining lumps that
may have escaped both
plow and harrow. It will
also pack the ground, and
give a very fine smooth
surface.

These preliminaries hav-
ing been gone through, the
only remaining preparation
necessary is "signing" or
marking out the ground.
As the rows are to be plant-
ed in drills, this, of course.

!
I
{

Fig. 1.— DIAGRAM OF NUBSERT.

is only done one way. From north to south is preferable,

as the sun, light and heat, reaches more of the surface of

the young trees than if the rows run in any other direction.

The rows may be run with a light plow, as for com,

but this is not the best _^

way, and when the nursery

is large, the following

method will be found both

economical and good. If the

nursery is fencedoff by itself,

run a furrow parallel with the northern fence, and at the

distance of four or five feet from it ; a similar one at the

southern end, as shown at figure 1, where «, a, are the

head rows, running east and west, and ft, ft, the nursery

rows, running north and south. The rows of trees are

Fig. 2.—]

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PBEPABATION OF GROUND FOB NUBSEBY. 39

to end at these ftiiTowB. The head rows afiblrd «pace for
turning the horse in cultivating the nursery. They may
be each occupied with a row of potatoes, if it is desired
to till every inch of ground. The end of the tree rows
should not extend close to the fence, as the young trees
will certainly be injured by turning in the cultivation, and
the ground will not be kept so clean. When this is done,
run the row as straight as practicable north and south,
and at the distance of three and a half to four feet apart.
The distance varies according as the character of the soil
and climate affect the growth of the trees. In a rich
southern soil, the greater distance will be none too much;
while in the North, especially if the soil is thin, the less
will be quite sufficient. The depth of the furrow should
not be less tlian an inch and a half, nor more than two
and a half inches.

Instead of the plow, a peculiar implement, a sort of
sledge, is sometimes used, and with advantage. It is
made b^ taking two pieces of oak plank, each four 6r five
feet long, twelve inches wide, and two thick. The front
ends are rounded off like a runner for a water-sled. The
runners are then connected, sled-like, by two cross-bars,
mortised and fastened into them, as in fig. 2. The distance
apart is the distance desired for the rows, as above describ-
ed. With this implement two rows instead of one can be
made at the same time. Besides this, the depth of the
rows as well as the distance apart will be more uniform.
Altogether, it is much preferable, while the cost of mak-
ing one is insignificant. Any intelligent fann hand can
construct one. It may also be enlarged so as to mark
three^ or even more, rows, by simply adding a runner for
every additional row desired, and.one, two, or three horses
may be used to drag it.

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40 PBACH CULTDBK.

CHAPTER V.

PLANTING THE SEED.

The nursery ground having been prepared as described
in the preceding chapter, the seed-bed is now overhauled.
If the seed was buried in sawdust on the surface of the
ground, or layered^ all that is now necessary, is to shovel
up the seed and dust into coarse wire sieves, and sift out
the latter. By this process a complete separation will
take place, and the seed will remain in the sieves quite
clean and nice. If it was spaded in^ the whole mass of
the bed will have to be spaded up, and if it is loose and
dry, it can be sifted, as in the former case ; but if wet or
lumpy, it may be necessary to pick out the seed by hand.

The seed is now carefully examined. The kernels have
swollen so much as to have burst many of the shells, and
loosened others. In some cases the shells have already
fallen off, or will do so in handling. All these are ready
to plant. Some cultivators will take off all the shells
and place the kernels in the baskets to be carried to
the nursery ; but this is not necessary, as they are no ob-
struction to the growth of the germ. It has one advant-
age, however ; it enables the cultivator to see exactly
whether or not the seed is perfect. It also enables him
to discover whether or not the shell has been sufficiently
' affected by the frosts of winter to prepare the seed for
planting without further preparation. On examining a
seed-bed, some of the seed will be found to be little af-
fected by the previous freezing. These should be separated
from the others, and cracked open with a hammer. This
is done by taking the seed between the thumb and fore-
finger of the left hand, placing it edgewise on a solid
block, and giving it a sharp, but moderate stroke with a
light hammer. This will separate the two valves, and

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PLANTING THE SEED. 41

leave the kernel aninjured. If this breaking process does
not take place, that seed is not fit to plant the first season.

W hen the seed has been thus taken up, sifted, ghelled,
and deposited in baskets, it is ready to be carried to the
nursery to be planted. If the sun is warm, or the wind
dry, or both, the baskets are covered with damp cloths
or matting, in order to keep the seed from being injured
by the exposure. It is always advisable to keep the seed
in the baskets in about the same temperature and hu«
midity it was before, as all sudden changes have a tend-
ency to injure or destroy it.

It is planted, in the rows already marked out, at about
two inches and a half apart. It may be closer or more
distant. If large trees are desired, a greater distance will
be advisable ; but if number and not size is the object
sought, two inches will do, especially if stimulating fertil-
izers are used. This close planting, however, we do not
recommend.

Small lads are usually employed to drop the seed, and
when clever ones can be obtained, they are preferable to
men, for the reason that they will do as much work for
half the money. Besides, the stooping posture they have
to assume does not tire them so much as it does men. A
careful man, however, should always be along to cover up
the seed, and to exercise general control. The seed is
usually covered with a rake, by drawing the loose
mold over it, about two inches deep. This should be
pressed down closely, so as to come in close contact with
the seed, and afibrd it aliment from the start. The cov-
erer may do it by simply walking up the row as he pro-
ceeds with his task, or it may be slapped down with a
spade or shovel, or a light roller may be used. And here
the work of planting the nursery is ended. But should
the ground be poor, or the season cold and backward, a
slight dressing of some active fertilizer should be used.
Ashes, guano, or any of the popular superphosphates will

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42 PEACH CULTUBE.

do very well If guano is used, care should be taken to
reduce it to the proper strength, hj mixing with it two
or three times its bulk of soil.

This is the approved method of planting a nursery,
and for nurserymen, is, perhaps, the best of all others, as
it enables them to use every inch of ground, and examine
every seed. But to the planter who only aims to rear a
few thousand trees for his own use, we commend the
following.

Prepare the ground in all respects as directed in the
last chapter^ but in the /aU instead of the spring. Then
plant your seed — ^not in the seed-bed, but in the nursery
rows where you wish them to grow. The manner of
dropping and covering is the same in both cases. The
advantages of this method are the following : It is mwre
simple^ there is no seed-bed, no sawdust or spading in;
no cracking of seed in the spring, no covering with damp
cloths. It is cheaper. The labor of the seed-bed, crack-
ing, and transporting the seed to the field or nursery is
all saved. It is usually more convenient^ because it is
done in the fall, and after other farm work, when the
ground is in better order, and labor cheaper and more
easily liad. And lastly, it insures a more complete 8^f>arar
tion of the kernels from the shells^ as the depth below
the surface is uniform, and the fi*eezing process equaL
To planters and small nurserymen, we recommend the last
method whenever it is convenient. When not so, they
can make their seed-bed in the ordinary way.

CHAPTER VI.

NURSERY CULTIVATION.

The cultivation of the nursery is both easy and simple,
and, if our directions for selecting and preparing the
ground have been followed, will be pleasant and gratify-

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NUBSEBT CULTIVATION. 43

ing. It is almost identical with that of com ; and were
the latter cultivated in drills, would be precisely the same.

If everything has been well done, and the season favor-
able, in about two weeks after planting — we now speak
of spring planting — ^the young trees or sprouts will be
thickly set from one end of the row to the other. They
may be three inches high if the ground is very warm and
kind, and the sun and rain conducive ; or less, under less
favorable circumstances. A sharp, light cultivator should
now be run between the first and third rows, then be-
tween the second and fouitb, but never between adjacent
rows on the same round; because by doing so you have to
make short turns, which impose more labor on the plow-
men, and often injures the trees in the end of the rows
by the treading of the horse, or bruising with the culti-
vator. Sometimes a small harrow will be preferable to'
the cultivator, especially if there are no weeds, and the
object is simply to stir the ground. A week later this
should be repeated ; and so continuously, through the
early half of the season ; afterwards, the dressings may
be less frequent, or suspended altogether, according as
the ground is clean and mellow, and the growth rapid, or
otherwise.

Should weeds or grass make their appearance amongst
the trees in the row, they must be promptly hoed or
pulled up, root and branch ; they have no business there,
and deserve no mercy.

Should the season be dry, or the ground stiff, it may be
necessary to use a small plow occasionally. Immediately
after, the harrow should follow, so that the clods may be
broken up and pulverized.

If the ground has been well prepared, the subsequent
culture good, and the season favorable, the growth of the
young trees will be very rapid, and highly gratifying ;
%and by the last of August they will have attained a hight
of four, five, or even six feet, and be quite strong and

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44 PKAOH OUXTUBE.

Stocky. Should they flag, however, during the season^
they may be stimulated and advanced by the application
of artificial manures, especially by liquid ones. The last
should be applied with a watering-can, between sundown
and dark, directly at the roots of the trees. A very good
method to apply guano or superphosphate, is to run a
small furrow as near the rows on each side as can be done
without injury to the roots, throwing it from the trees.
Then sow the manure in the furrow at the rate of six
hundred pounds of guano, and a thousand of superphos-
phate, to the acre. Now reverse the order, and run a
furrow on the outside of the first, throwing it to the rows.
In this way the manure will be thoroughly distributed,
deposited exactly where wanted, and well covered up.
The subsequent rapid growth of the trees should soon
give evidence of its powerful effect.

When the trees have attained such a growth as to shade
the ground between the rows sufficiently to keep it moist,
all cultivation should cease. Should weeds appear in the
rows after this, they must be pulled up ; but this will
seldom occur unless foul manure has been used.

It sometimes happens that, through the inexperience or
carelessness of the seed planters, the young trees corae up
too thick ; when this occurs, the superfluous ones should
be pulled up.

CHAPTER Vn.

BUDS.

These should also be selected with great care. Hund-
reds of planters have been sorely disappointed when their
trees came into bearing to see them turn out a different
variety from what they had bought them for. Worse
still, sometimes they buy and pay for the choicest bud-

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BUDS. 45

ded fruit, but when the trees begin to bear, they produce,
instead, small, knotty,* natural peaches. This, in most
cases, occurs through carelessness. As the natural fruit
is nearly worthless, and wholly unmarketable, the loss to
the planter is very great; and, as several years must
elapse before a change can be effected, it is almost irrepar-
able. The strictest care should, therefore, be exercised in
selecting buds. They must he true to kind ; that is, they
inust certainly be of the variety intended. A mistake in
this regard would destroy the reputation of a nursery-
man, and would be a sore disappointment to the planter.
The best way to insure buds of the kind wanted, is, to get
them out of the nursery of some well-known nurseryman,
whose character, as such, is beyond question for skill, care,
and honesty, and who has been long in the business. This
last will have given him that extraordinary caution which
is only the result of experience and previous disappoint-
ment. Even with all this circumspection, it is possible to
fail ; but failure will be rare. These disappointments oc-
cur from various causes. Marks may bo lost or mis-
placed in the rows, or the labels, when the trees are sent
away from the nursery. A mistake once made is very
likely to be miiitiplied and perpetuated, because subse-
quent budders rely upon what they or their neighbors
have purchased as a particular variety, and they cannot
do otherwise unless they can wait until the trees have
borne, and thus test the matter for themselves. If access
cannot be had to a nursery, the next best resource is a
young orchard of the first or second year's growth. The
buds themselves must be of the current season.

Some prefer to take buds from bearing orchards, as
they think it insures the kind. Where the quantity of
buds wanted is small, and the trees are marked and*Tiot6d
while in fruit, this may do very well. But large nursery-
men will seldpm find enough such buds convenient ; they
will be difficult and tedious to procure; as a rule, not so

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46 PEACH CULTURE.

fresh and thrifty; many of them will hefniU^ instead of
kaf^ buds ; and, after all, the risk of obtaining the true
variety will be found nearly, if not altogether, as great.
For ourselves, in view of all the circumstances, we
prefer buds taken from a thrifty, vigorous, young
nurseiy.

The buds must be healthy. It is unnecessary to
dwell on this point. No prudent or honest man,
with the least regard for his own interest or char-
acter, or his neighbors' rights, would knowingly
I bud from a diseased stock. A trader in plague-in-
fested clothes or cattle is not so culpable or detestable.
They must be leaf^ not fruity buds. All ex-
perienced cultivators know that there are two kinds
of buds formed on the twigs, and that one of these
produces leaves and the other fruit the next season.
Now, what the budder wants is leaves and wood,
not blossoms and fruit, and he must, therefore, be
careful to get the right kind. The difference is
easily observed; but an inexperienced man should
not trust himself, but rather employ an experienced
one to make the selections for him. If he is com-
pelled to do it himself, he must remember that
fruit buds are rounder, softer, and more open than
^'^•^'the leaf buds. The difference between the two
kinds of buds is shown in fig. 3. The small pointed buds
are leaf buds, the rounder ones blossom buds, which fre-
quently occur in pairs, with a leaf-bud between them.

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TWIGS. 47

TWIGS.

When the nursery or orchard is selected, the buds are
taken off in this way: With a shai-p knife cut off the
strongest twigs of the present season's growth, about two
inches from the main stem, or, if you prefer it, close to
the stem. Throw them together in little bundles, and
when you have as many as you expect to use in the suc-
ceeding half day, stop, as under ordinary circumstances,
no more than can be used in half a day should be taken
off. They are injured by being kept long. Now, gather
up your bundles, throw them in a heap, and saturate them
with cold water. This will keep them from shrinking,
and preserve them fresh and green. But do not stop
here. Take your knife, which should be as sharp as a
razor, and cut away every leaf at the distance of about
half an inch from the twig. This stops the flow of tne
sap to the leaf, and keeps it in the bud, thus preserv;*>g
its freshness for a longer time. The buds at the lower
end of the twig are generally smaller, and not so well
formed as those further up. For this reason it is advisa-
ble to reject two or three inches of the lower end ; and
if you have not already done it by cutting the twig from
the main stock at that distance, do it now by cutting the
leaves off smooth instead of leaving a half-inch stem, as
above mentioned. On the other hand, the top buds
sometimes swell too much, and for this reason the two or
three nearest the top should be cut away in the same
manner as those at the bottom. In this way the best
buds only will be retained, and the success of the bud-
ding greatly promoted. When the buds, or rather the
twigs, are thus prepared, they should be placed, buts
down, in a vessel, usually a bucket of water, and cover-
ed with a damp cloth. They now go into the hands of
the budder for immediate use.

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48 PEACH CULTUBS.

BUDS EXPRESSED.

It sometimes happens that nurserymen, bat more fre-
quently amateurs, wish to send buds of some rare variety
by mail or express, and, by proper care in packing, they
may be safely sent hundreds of miles in this way.

When this is desired, the buds should, in the first place,
be taken off and prepared in the manner above described.
If the distance is not more than two hundred miles, and
on a railroad, a wrapping of moist moss, with an outer
coat of thick cloth, will be quite sufficient. But if the
distance be great, the best way is to procure a hollow tin
cylinder, air-tight, and open at one end, and place the
buds in this, filling the vessel about half full of buds,
then fill the interstices with fine, clean sawdust, saturated
with water. Now put on the cap, and either solder or
seal it on, so that it will be air-tight. In this way buds
may be transported five hundred miles or more. The
vessel should never be filled full, as the buds swell in the
Dox, and cannot be taken out without injury.

CHAPTER Vm.

BUDDING.

The JBudding is done in August and September. The
length of the season varies, being shorter in a northern
than in a southern latitude. On the Delaware Peninsula
it is about six weeks from and after the first of August.
But sometimes it commences sooner, and is prolonged
even into October. As a rule, budding may begin as
soon as the buds are large enough to cut from the twig,
and continue as long as the sap flows freely. Young,

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BUDDING. 49

vigorous trees keep green a long time, and as long as the
leaves are green and the sap flowing, may be budded.
But it is not safe to put it off to the last of the season,
as a sudden frost or dry cold spell may kill the leaves
or chill the sap, and thus prevent the bud from forming a
complete union with the stem in the fall, and if not then
formed, it never will be afterwards. It is not best to
commence too early, either, for if the season is warm and
wet, or much protracted, there is danger that the young
buds will start to grow, and either burst off or spend their
strength too soon. Buds that start in the fall are not '
I&ely to do so well

BUDDERS.

Budding is a trade ; and in no department of agricuU
ture is skilled labor more essential than in this. The
nurseryman cannot be too careful in the selection of his
budders. Experimenters, novices, bunglers, are all to be
rejected without hesitation. They are dear at any price.
Too dear if they would work for nothing and board them-
selves. The reason is obvious. If the buds do not takey
you lose not only the budders' wages, but you lose the
trees themselves. They can only be successfully budded
the first year of their growth, and if you fail then, you
fail altogether. Hence the importance of securing skilled
labor in this department— expert budders, who will do
their work well In almost every community there are
pretenders, who, on all occasions, are ready to offer their
services to do anything and everything that may be re-
quired. They make loud professions of their knowledge
and ability to give satisfaction. In nine cases out of
ten they are quacks, without knowledge, experience,
or skill, and no man who understands his business will
employ or countenance them. The reason that good
ones are so rare is, that, except in a few localities, peach
3

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^50 PBAC7H CULTURE.

growing is a recent enterprise, and there has not b^en
time to raise up and instruct men for this special depart-
ment. It is believed that in New Jersey alone, where
peaches have long been a staple, can intelligent and skill-
ful budders be found in sufficient numbers to bud large
nurseries in proper season. We know that in Delaware,
where peach growing has been prosecuted with great
energy and success for the last ten or twelve year9, bud-
ders are still imported from New Jersey, and their skill
and speed are of the first order. -^^ ' .

They are usually paid by the thousand, and at the rate
of two dollars and fifty cents or three dollars, and board.
This does not include auxiliary help, which is an addi-
tional charge of about equal amount.

TIES.

These are made of common bass-wood matting, such as
usually comes around furniture and other articles, and the
planter or nurseryman can often procure all he wants,
second-hand, at the stores for a trifle, and this does very
well. If not, he can get it new at any of the seed or agri-
cultural stores in the cities or large towns for a small sum.
When received, it should be cut into strands about a foot
long, and ripped into pieces about half an inch wide. It
should be then tied, with a few pieces of the same, into
hanks or bundles of one, two, three, four, or five hundred
strands, as the tyer may desire.

BUDS.

The buds, as before stated, are procured from budded
nurseries or young orchards. In the former, the young
trees are always full of thrifty, vigorous laterals, and
from these the buds are taken. The best size for thesQ
twigs is the thickness of a full-sized goose-quilL

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BUDDING.

51

Each budder is furnished with two assistants. Intelli-
gent lads, of ten or twelve years, make very good assist-
ants after a little instruction and experience. One is
called a stripper^ the other a tyer. The stripper goes be-
fore the budder, and strips or rubs off all the leaves and
small shoots of the trees for a distance of six inches above
the ground. Sometimes, especially late in the season,
the shoots have to be cut off with a sharp knife. This
clears the way for the budder, and enables him to
proceed with ease and dispatch. The budding now com-
mences thus : The budder is provided with a very sharp
instrument, called a hadding-haife (fig. 4), made espe-
^ — ~ ^^ TTB^BBI^^^^W^^w^ cially for the pur-

V. \\ "^^ ^"^ — "^ pose ; with this he

Fig. 4.— BUDDING-KNIFE. makcs 2k vcrtical

incision in the young tree, about an inch and a half long,
and a transverse one at right angles with it. It is
made with great rapidity, and in this manner : The knife
is inserted at the lower end of the slit, drawn up the de-
sired length, then, with a slight twist of the hand, right
and left, the transverse cut is made, and the edges of the
bark at the same time loos-
ened so as to readily admit
the bud, as in fig. 5. These
incisions are clear through
the bark, and slightly into
the wood. The bud (fig. 6)
is now cut from the cion
and immediately inserted,
as shown in fig. T. The
budder has now done his
part, and proceeds to an-
other, and so on, with
great rapidity. Some ex-
pert budders will bud two thousand five hundred trees
in a day ; fifteen hundred, for a skillful hand, is not re-

1!^
Fig. 5.— INCISION,

, 7.-

Fig. 6.— BUD.

BUD INSERTED.

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52

PKACH CULTURE.

garded as a great day's work ; and some have even ex-
ceeded three thousand, so expert do they become by
practice. Nor is it poorly done ; on the contrary, we
have always found the speediest hands the most successful
in obtaining adhesion and growth.

The tyer now follows with his hank of ties, and, taking
one between his thumb and fingers, he places the center
of it firmly just below the eye of the bud,
passes the ends rapidly round the stock in op-
posite directions, brings them back above the
eye of the bud, and ties them. Figure 8
shows the bud as tied in this manner. Another
method is for the tyer to place himself on the
opposite side of the bud, but place the tie as
before, pass it clear round, and back to the side
opposite the bud, and tie it there, as in fig. 9.
By this method the tie makes a half circle more
Fig- 8- than by the former, and the knot, instead of be-
ing over the bud, is opposite to it. Some prefer this, as they
insist that it holds the bud more firmly, and that when
the ties have to be cut, there will be less risk to the bud.
But if the tie be good, and the knot skill-
fully made, the bud will be well held in
position by the first method. Indeed, we (^\
are not sure but that it will be quite as firmly
held as by the second, inasmuch as the knot
will be over the bud, and thus bear
stronger upon it, affording greater protec-
tion and support ; and, as for the cutting,
this can and should be done at the op-
posite side from the bud, in either case.
Besides, when the tyer is on the same side
as the bud, he can see exacUy where to place the tie,
which he cannot always do in the other method. The
budding is now complete.

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BUDDING. 53

SLIPPING AND QUILLING.

Slipping the bud or bark is a very common expression
among budders. It occurs in the act of taking the bud
from the stem. In cutting the bud from tne stem a small
piece of the wood is usually removed with it. But when
the bark is flowing freely, budders only cut through the
bark, and then, with their thumb and finger, peel or slip
the bud, without any wood, from the stem, and this is
called slipping tJie bud. It is speedier than the other
method, and quite as good, as there is no need whatever
of any wood with the bud.

QuiUing^ on the other hand, occurs when the flow of
sap is deficient, and the bark begins to tighten on the
stock that is budded. The budder then provides himself
with a goose-quill, cuts away about half the barrel as for a
pen, but, instead of pointing the side he retains, only
rounds it off in the form of a semicircle. This he inserts
in the bark of the stock, at the intersection of the verti-
cal and transverse incisions, heretofore described, and
slips it down between the bark and the wood a suflicient
distance to admit the bud. And this is call quilling. In-
stead, however, of using a quill, the budding-knife ia
now provided with a horn or bone point on the opposite
end to the knife proper, which answers the purpose of
the old quill, and is more convenient.

When the rows run north and south, the buds should
be put in on the west side ; when east and west, on the
I north side. This will enable them the better to resist the
north and west winds the next season, when the young,
tender budded stock, full of sap and foliage, is easily
parted from the stem, but capable of much greater re-
sistance when the pressure is towards the stem, than /rom
it. The proper place to insert the bud is about one and a
half or two inches above the ground; the nearer the
ground the better.

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54 PEACH CULTURE.

MARKING.

This i^ an important, although an oft-neglected or ill-
performed, part of the work. On it, however, depWids
the reputation of the nurseryman as well as the succfess
and satisfaction of the planter. Every precaution should
be taken to insure complete certainty of the kind in each
row. Having had but one kind of buds on hand at a
time, and after throwing away whatever of that kind may
be left, when all wanted have been budded, the next thing
is to properly and permanently distinguish and designate
the particular variety in each row. We know of no bet-
ter way than this: Procure at the saw-mill or lumber-yard
a sufficient quantity of what is comtnonly called shin-
gling lath, — oak is best, but any kind of wood will do.
Tlie stakes are to be three feet long, and the lath, for the
sake of economy, should be twelve feet Jong, which is a
very common and desirable letigth. It should be fronqt
two and a half to three inches wide, and from three-
quarters of an inch to one inch thick, but these dimen:*
sions^are not essential. When the lath- has been sawed
into pieces three feet long, and pointed at one end so as
to be easily driven into the ground, one of the faces of
each piece should be either shavied or jplaned smooth, a
distance of one foot from the top, in order that it may be
the better marked at the proper time. The stakes may
now be marked altogether, or they maybe marked as
they are set in the ground. We prefer the former,
for the reason that it can be the better done, and may
then be done by one man ; and the proprietor himself,
or a reliable overseer, should attend to this in person,
and not leave it to careless or uninterested persons. It
may be well done with red lead, or a heavy black lead
pencil, or with paint or ]^rinters' ink. The aim should
be to obtain a clear aiSd permanent mark; one that can
be easily read, and one that will not fad0. 7 .

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BUDDING. 55

The mark itself may be of two kindd. The one is by
writing the names of the variety in large, plain letters on
the stake, and the other is by writing numbers thereon
in the same way ; and when this is done, by entering the
numbers in a book, with the varieties opposite. By the
first method the variety can always be told on the ground
by anybody by simple inspection ; .by the second, no one
can tell except he who has the book, nor can he often do
it without the book. Some prefer one method, and some
another, and for various reasons. We advise a combina-
tion of both. First, let the stakes be distinctly marked
with the name of the variety, then let the first row be
marked in a book No. 1, with the variety in it, ajid so
on of the rest. In this way, if the stakes should be lost,
or removed, the nurseryman would still have the means
of telling what variety he had in every row, and would
not be entirely dependent on either the stakes or numbers.

The first stake should be set at the south end of the
west row, where the rows run north and south, and at
the west end of the north row, where they run east and
west ; and the rows should be numbered from west to
east, or from north to south.

As soon as the first bud is inserted, the first stake
should be set with name or number facing towards the
row, and not from it, as is in some places the fashion,
and when budding of that variety ends, another stake,
with the same variety and number, should be immediately
set beyond the last bud, and facing the first stake. And
now another stake, with the name or number of the next
variety, should be set with its back to the back of the
last stake, if the varieties end anywhere except at the
end of the row. This method should be repeated with
each variety until all are budded, and if this be done, it will
be almost impossible to confuse the varieties. A flat stake,
without name or number, may be driven between the two

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56 PEACH CULTURE.

other stakes for greater caution, in case of the fading of
the marks or accident to the stakes themselves.

Whenever convenient, it is advisable never to bnd a
row with more than one variety.

CHAPTER IX.
CULTIVATION OF BUDa

In about two weeks after budding, the buds should be
examined. Those that have taken will have a lively green
appearance, especially towards the center, while those
that have not taken, will be shrunken at the edges, and
of a brown hue. They will also have shed the leaf-stem,
while those that have not taken will still retain it. Ninety
per cent should be living, and where the conditions have
been favorable, nearly all. When the time is proper, the
buds fresh, and the budder skillful, there is no necessity
for losing a single bud ; and very few, in fact, are lost.
If it is discovered, in this examination, that some have
not taken, and the season is not too far advanced, they
may be re-budded.

Another object of the examination is, to see if the ties
are cutting the buds. This occurs when the tie has been
tightly drawn, the xmion prompt and complete, and the
growth rapid. The tie should now be cut. This is ef-
fected by a single stroke of a shai*p knife, drawn across
the tie on the opposite side to the bud, and at an acute
angle with the stem of the young tree. If the nursery-
man prefers to loosen the tie, he will draw the loop of the
knot when it has been so tied ; if tied in a Aarrf knot, he
will have to undo the last draw. This is tedious, and

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CULTIVATION' OP BUDS. 67

large growers very seldom resort to it ; when it is ex-
pected to be used, the knots should all be loop. But the
process of budding peaches is so easy when done by skil-
ful hands, and in proper season, that a slight band, and that
only for a short time, is all that is necessary. We have
even known them to take and do well without being tied
at all. To neglect this precaution, however, is neither ju-
dicious nor safe. But when the work is done late, or
any other unfavorable incident intervenes, the tying is
highly important, and the manner in which it is done
may greatly tend to insure success or promote defeat.

It may be found, on examination, that some of the
bands have been burst. This occurs where the band has
been weak and the growth rapid. In such cases no
further attention is necessary. The buds will take care
of themselves. In some cases the bands will be found to
have cut into the bark, owing to their strength and tight-
ness, and the rapid growth of the bud. Here the bands
should be immediately cut.

This examination should be repeated ten days or a fort-
night later, unless further growth has been checked by
early frosts or cold, dry weather, when it will be un-
necessary. The treatment should be precisely as before,
with this addition ; that where it is apparent the bud
has taken well, the band should be cut ; but when this is
doubtful, or it is plain the union is slight, the bands should
be left until the sap begins to flow the next spring, as
the freezing and thawing of winter greatly tends to
throw off buds that are not fairly joined to the stems, and
the band is of great service in maintaining their close
union with them. Nothing more is required until the
next spring, when all remaining bands should be cut on
the first start of the sap.

In the spring, and as soon as the sap begins to flow
freely, the natural stocks must be cut away just i^bove
the bud. It must not be done too early, as there is dan«
3*

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68 PBACH CULTURE.

ger then that the warm sun in the daytime^ and the cold
frosts at night will so dry and harden the stump, as to
obstruct the flow of sap to the top altogether, and thus
kill the bud by drying up the bark and cutting off its
aliment. This sometimes happens, and is more likely to
occur in large, thrifty stocks than small ones.

Neither must it be deferred too long ; as, in that case,
the sap will be drawn rapidly from the roots by the large
surface of the limbs and buds ; a direct current will be
established between the root and the top ; the bud, which
is one side of this current, will receive but little, and will
be retarded in its after growth, if not dwarfed altogether.
Besides, when cut late, numerous suckers will be thrown
up from the stem, and sometimes even from the roots.

If the cutting is done at the proper time, just afiier the
sap begins to flow continuously, the bud will draw nutri-
ment immediately from the root, and make very rapid
and satisfactory growth.

THE CUTTING.

Cutting is done in this way. Take a common bill-hooked
pruning-knife, as sharp as it can be made. It should cut
as smooth as a razor. A dull knife is abominable, but a
sharp one the delight of the operator. It should be
sharp, because the work can be done /aster, better, and
with more satisfaction. If it is dull, there is more or less
danger of loosening the bark around the edge of the
stump, and thus endangering the life or thrift of the bud.

The operator, being provided with his sharp knife, be-
gins at the south end of the west row, or the west end
of the south row, according as they have been planted
north and south, or east and west. Placing himself on
the same side of the row with the bud, he seizes the first
tree, bends it slightly towards him, which facilitates the
excision, and inserting the edge of the knife on a level

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CULTIVATION OF BUDS. 69

with, or slightly below the lower end of the bud, draws
it, with a rapid motion towards him, in an upward di-
rection, and at an angle of about forty-five or fifty de-
grees, leaving from a quarter to a half inch of the stump
above the bud. This is a very speedy work, a single
good hand being able to dispatch five thousand in a day.
As soon as it is clearly ascertained what buds have not
taken, the stumps should be immediately taken up with
the spade. If this is not done, they will send up suckers
which will grow rapidly, take the room and aliment that
should be reserved solely for the young buds that have
taken, and interfere with the cultivation. Besides this,
if great care be not exercised in taking up the trees in
the fall or spring succeeding, they will be mixed in with
the stock of budded ones, and thus destroy its purity, and
injure both its sale, and the reputation of the vender.

RUBBING OFF BUDS.

In two or three weeks after the topping takes place, and
even sooner, if the growth has been rapid, all the natural
buds bdow the cion must be rubbed off. This is readiLy
done with the hand, if performed in proper season. The
process is repeated a week or two later, as the supera-
bundant sap is continually forcing out new ones. The
object of rubbing is to destroy the natural, and stimulate
the artificial, buds. At first the union is so slight and
the fiow of sap so abundant, that there is a strong and
constant effort of nature to furnish new stems to sup-
ply the loss of the one cut away; but as the leaves of
the inserted bud begin to develop themselves, and the
bud itself to assume the form of the exscinded stem, this
effort is directed into the new channel, and the tendency to
throw off new shoots is greatly weakened. Two or three
rubbings will generally be sufficient, but, from the tardy
growth of the artificial bud, or the great strength of the

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GO PSACH CULTURE.

roots, more may sometimes be necessary. The observant
planter will be able to decide this without difficulty ; and
to the practical nurseryman, further directions on this
point would be superfluous. The object of leaving a
natural bud above the artificial one is, to assist in carry-
ing the sap above the latter ; but after the first rubbing
this will hardly be needful ; and at the second operation,
€Ul natural buds may, as a general rule, be removed.

TILLAGE.

The ground should be kept free from weeds, and loose
and friable. This can usually be accomplished by running
the cultivator up and down between the rows. The judg-
ment of the planter will direct him how frequently this
should be done. If the ground has been such as we have
advised, two or three times during the entire season, may
be sufficient ; but one thing we will say, it cannot be done
too often if the cultivator looks only to the growth of
the trees ; and were we to give one general rule, we
should say once a week, throughout the season.

MANURE.

If the growth of the tree is not satisfactory, it may be
promoted greatly by stimulating manures, either liquid or
solid. Liqi^id may be made by dissolving guano or hen
manure in an old barrel or hogshead, and applied, by a
common watering-pot directly to the neck of the tree.
Guano or other concentrated manures can be applied
with almost immediate effect by running a ftirrow on
each side with a light plow, very near the row, throwing
it from the row, then depositing the guano with the hand
or hand-drill in the bottom of the furrow. Cover it by
running another furrow around the row, throwing the
furrow this time towards the row. In this way the young
trees will reap nearly the entire benefit of the manure
during the single season of their growth in the nursery.

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CULTIVATION OF BUDS. 61

The quantity of guano will vary according as the quality
of the ground or character of the season varies, or as the
desire to have larger or smaller trees varies. Six hundred
pounds per acre will be sufficient in almost any instance,
and sometimes too much.

PRUiaNG. ■

As the young tree usually forms a single upright,
straight, and handsome stem, pruning is not essential.
Still it may sometimes be done with advantage. Espe-
cially will this be the case where the distance between
the trees has been increased by failure of buds or other
cause, thus giving them a tendency to throw out lateral
branches ; and if not done too early, it will generally be
beneficiaL The advantage consists in confining the sap
within narrower bounds, and thus increasing the size
and height of the main stem, and also causing the wood
to mature earlier. The last is of considerable importance,
especially in northern localities, where it is often difficult
to obtain wood that will stand the next winter's freezing.

The pruning may be done any time between the middle
of July and the middle of September, and will vary a
little in different latitudes. K done before the middle of
July, the succeeding growth will be so great as to par-
tially neutralize the effect ; while, if deferred beyond the
middle of September, it will be so little as to be of small
advantage. But, as before remarked, much will depend
upon the particular latitude, and something will depend
upon topographical and other specific causes. In pruning,
it is not generally advisable to cut away the limbs more
than to the height of two feet from the ground. If the
trees are large, three feet may not be too much ; and if
small, one may be enough. From one-third to one-half
the length of the tree will usually afford a safe rule ; one-
third, if the pruning .be done early in the season, and
one-half^ if late.

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62 PEACH CULTUBS.

CHAPTER X.

TAKING UP AND SENDING TO MARKET.

Peach trees must be set in the orchard at one year's
growth from the bud, that is, the fall or spring after the
natural stock has been cut off, as described in the last
chapter. The progressive steps are these. Make the
seed-bed in the fall, the next spring plant the seed in the
nursery, the fall of the same year, bud ; the next spring,
top, and the next fall or spring, plant the trees in the
orchard. They will then be two-year-old from the seed,
and one year from the bud.

With extensive nurserymen the fall and spring, but
especially the former, are busy times. Traveling and
local agents, as well as many immediate customers, have
been sending in, and are still continuing to send in their
orders. These have all to be numbered and entered in the
nursery order-book, and each compared and verified in
order to prevent mistakes. Labels have to be procured
and prepared, so that they may be at hand when wanted.
Boxes for packing, or, if the nurseryman makes his own
boxes, the material for them ; boards, lath, or scantling,
hoop-iron, nails, chaff, and straw, as well as saws, ham-
mers, etc.

When these are all provided, and the hands engaged,
the nurseryman awaits the proper season to commence
work. When it comes it is a busy time, for all orders
have to be filled, and all shipments made within a few
weeks, and these may be curtailed by the early approach
of winter, which suspends all operations. The time to
commence taking up trees varies as the latitude. In the
North it will be much earlier than at the South. At

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TAKING UP AND SENDING TO MASKST. 63

Rochester, New York, the first of October will be found
about the average, while at Dover, Delaware, it will be
four .weeks later. The true criterion in any place is when
the leaves will ruh off the trees by the hand. But it will
not always do to wait even so long; for if the season
has been wet and warm, the young trees will continue to
grow and hold their leaves until the winter sets in.

When the season has arrived, a shanty or tent of loose
boards is erected on the edge of the nursery. Here are
the head-quarters for the time being. Here are deposited
the materials, the tools, labels, etc., and from here issue
the orders to the workmen, and here the trees are brought
to be labeled, packed, and marked.

On the morning the work begins, the foremen who
have been selected and engaged to do the work, and they
always should be and mostly are, expert, careful men, re-
pair to the tent for instructions. The proprietor or over-
seer now opens his order-book at the first page, and reads,
— "Fifteen hundred Hale's Early;" "Five hundred Early
York," etc., until he goes through the order. While he
is reading, the foreman or leader has been taking down
the names and numbers on a smaU memorandum book for
the purpose. When the overseer is through reading, the
foreman has them all down, and immediately commences
repeating the order from the beginning, while the overseer
is carefully watching to see that it is exact. Being found
BO, the foreman proceeds to the nursery^ followed by his
assistants, where the requisite number of each variety is
carefully taken up with the spade, and left lying in their
respective rows, if to be bundled and tied by the same
hands ; but if other hands follow, then they are tied by
the latter in bundles and labeled. If the same men who
take up are to bundle, then the trees are all taken up first,
and when this is done, bundled in the same way. The
label consists of a small piece of light wood, about an

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64

PEACH CULTURE.

inch wide, and four inches long, upon which the name of
the variety is plainly written in letters, and the number
of trees in the bundle in figures, thus, " Hale's Eably, 25.*'
Until recently all nursery stock was taken up with the
spade ; but latterly, an implement, called a " Tree Digging
Plow,'* has been invented, and, among large nurserymen.

Fig. 10.— TBBB DIGOIHa FLOW.

entirely supersedes the old method. It is constructed with
two beams, one to run on each side of the row of trees, two
sets of handles, and a peculiar share, much in shape like
the letter U. This share is very sharp ; the horizontal
part runs under, and the vertical ones on each side of the
trees, and the roots are thus smoothly cut off, both verti-
cally and laterally, while the trees themselves remain
standing, and may be taken up by the hand at pleasure.
T The plow is propelled by four horses, two on each side of
the row, harnessed tandem, and guided by two plowmen,
one on each side. With this plow and equipment, ten
thousand trees may be prepared in a single day. But the
saving of labor is not the only advantage. The roots are
never broken, and need no pruning. Besides, the neces-
sity of heeling-in is obviated, as the trees may be taken
out at any time, either the same fall or the next spring,
without further expense or trouble.

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TAKING UP AJifD SENDING TO MABKET. 65

The bundles are usually tied with strong twine in sev-
eral places, and the label is secured to the twine by a
small wire, passing through or around the end thereof,
and fastened to the twine by slipping one strand under,
and the other above the twine, and twisting the ends to-
gether. Ordinary iron wire will answer for this purpose ;
but copper wire, being more ductile, and less liable to
rust, is preferable, and is now mostly used by our large
nurserymen.

When the bundles have been thus made up, they are
brought to the shanty to be inspected and verified with
the recorded order. Each variety is placed on a pile by
itself, and the overseer then reads, as before, " Fifteen
hundred Hale's Early, — ^five hundred Early York," etc.
The vaiieties and numbers being found to correspond with
the order, the bundles are now carefully packed ; and this
is done in two ways. If the trees are to be sent a great
distance, it is usual and preferable to pack in large boxes.
These are made of boards of the cheapest material, and
of various widths, in order to facilitate boxing. The
length is usually eight or nine feet, the breadth and depth
thirty-six to forty inches. The thickness of the boards is
usually three-quarter inch for sides, and one inch for ends.
In order to support and strengthen the boxes still
further, it is usual and indeed necessary, to put several
bands of hoop-iron clear around them. In this way they
will carry safely any distance. When the boxes are
ready, the packer puts some old straw, hay, or other soft
) substance, light and capable of retaining moisture, in the
bottom of the box. He then lays a bundle of trees in,
with the roots towards the end, and another bundle
with the roots towards the opposite end, and so on,
until the box is full. In this way the tops overlap,
so that the thickness of the mass is nearly uniform
throughout — ^the length of the box being guaged so as
to effectuate this as nearly as may be. When the box

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66 PEACH OITLTUBK.

is full, more straw is stuffed in along the sides of the box,
and some placed on the top, then the lid is put on and
nailed fast, the hoops also, and the trees are boxed.
The name and address of the consignee is then painted
or stenciled in large letters on the lid of the box ; and, if
not to be transported by the ordinary route, the special
line or way is to be indicated by smaller letters in the
border, as " Via Norfolk," '' Citizens' Line," '' Steamer
Belle Mary," and so on. This latter direction is usually
that of the consignee ; as the shipper, unless special orders
be given, will ship by the ordinary line, and without any
special directions whatever, thus :

Hbnby Wilmee,

Wilminfftonj

N. C.

This is sufficient, as the goods will be delivered by
one transportation company to another, until they reach
their destination.

The other method of packing is in bundlea. To pack
in bundles, you must be provided with matting, moss, .
straw and twine. The matting is cut into squares of
various sizes to suit the size of the bundles. It is spread
on the ground and covered several inches deep with damp
moss, rotten straw or hay. The trees tied in bundles, as
before described, are now brought and set upright on the
moss-covered matting. Four bundles, one hundred trees,
are as many as it is advisable to put into one package.
When thus set, the corners of the matting are drawn up
closely around the trees ; some more moss placed around
the roots if needful, and the whole tightly tied with strong
twine, passed round and round and knotted, until it is
completely secured. The bundle is then further protect-
ed by. being thatched with long rye-straw, firmly tied
with twine. The straw is some times put on before the
matting is tied, and the latter drawn up over the lower;

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TAKING UP AND SENDING TO HABKET. 67

end of the straw ; and some times the matting is first
fastened as above described, and the straw thatch placed
on afterwards.

When the boxes and bundles are thus prepared, they
are hauled to the station or landing to be shipped. Here
they are weighed, and the weight marked in pounds.
When delivered to the transporters, duplicate bills of
lading are made out, signed and delivered to th|r shipper.
When this is received at the shanty or office, the or-
der is marked, " filled October 20th, 1869, and goods ship-
ped by P. W. <fe B. R R." The trees are then charged in
the journal, a bill made out unless already paid for, and
it, together with one of the bills of lading, mailed to the
consignee, and the transaction is complete, so far as the
nursery is concerned. If they are not paid, lawyers
suits, commissions, and reductions of profits will follow ;
but we do not propose to speak of this rather piquant
and practical feature of the business.

Tlie Subsequent work is but at repetition or continuiation
of what wi have described ;. and it is umieicessa^rjr. to pur-
sue it further. : ' ' ' ^
r It seldom happens lihat, £dl the stot^k is got ofi* in the
Fall. The trees that remain, are either left in the rows
as they grow, or taken up marked, and heeled-in.
The heeling -in is done, by digging a trench, on some suit-
able, dry spot, free from roots and stones, about three feet
wide, two deep, and as long as may be necessary to con-
tain the trees. The trench should, if convenient, run
nofth-east and south-west. The dirt should be thrown on
the north-west side. The trees should then be placed in
the trench, in a leaning posture with the tops towards the
south-east. The dirt should now be shovelled in and
closely packed, both to keep the roots in a natural state,
.and also to leave no hirking place for mice or moles.
When the trench is full, the residue of the dirt should be
banked Up agi£Linst the trees and on thlem from the north-

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68 PBACH CULTOBB!.

west side. This will shield them from the cold blasts of
winter, and keep them in good condition until wanted
the next spiing. They may be still further protected by
throwing over them, small branches of pine or other ever-
green, bagasse, corn-stalks, or straw. The freer from seed
or grain the better, as that, sometimes attracts the mice
and other vermin, which often injure the trees. Here
they should remain until wanted for shipment or planting
the next spring.

CHAPTER XL

SELECTING A SITE FOR AN ORCHARD.

The first step, after the planter has either reared or
purchased his trees, is the selection of a site for his or-
chard. At first view this seems very simple ; but to in-
sure satisfaction several things are to be considered.

As the young wood and fruit buds often suffer from the
piercing blasts of winter, a spot that is sheltered from
these is much to be desired. And, as they usually come
from the north and north-west, a site on the south, or
south-east, of a wood or hill, is, other things being equal,
greatly to be preferred. And if a cove or valley can be
found, surrounded on all sides by high lands, so much
the better. But, except in a hilly country, sites of this
kind cannot be found. But their value can hardly be
overestimated ; and the possession of such a one has
sometimes made the fortune of its owner. We will give
an instance or two. On the Alleghany river, thirty-six
miles above Pittsburg, resides Mr. Thomas Logan, whose
success in raising fine fruit, especially apples, is famous.
His land is good, but not better than-that of many of his
neighbors ; his culture is good, but not better than some

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SBLBCTING A SITE FOR AN ORCHARD. 69

Others in the vicinity ; yet his success is far greater than
any others. Indeed, he scarcely ever fails, and it is at-
tributed to this cause — his orchard is surrounded by
high hills. On the north, they rise several hundred
feet, but are a mile or more in the distance ; on the east,
they are not quite so high, but approach nearer ; on the
south, they are nearly as high as on the north, and about
the same distance ; and on the west, they are not more than
fifty or sixty feet high, but covered with timber. Between
these flows the river, not in a straight line, but first to
the south-west, then to the south-east, and then back
again to the south-west. By this peculiar topographical
position, the wind has no direct sweep on the farm. What
is more remarkable still, and goes even further to prove
that Mr. Logan's success is owing to position, and not
cultivation or other cause, is the fact, that on the fourth
of June, A. D., 1859, a remarkable frost occurred, which
killed not only the fruit, but the wheat and rye, and even
the leaves of the trees, in all that section of the country.
Yet Mr. Logan had sixty acres of wheat, which was not
even injured.

Many similar instances, but not perhaps so remarkable,
have come under our own observation. The cases of
trees in towns protected by houses and walls, are famil-
iar. It seems plain, therefore, that the topography of a
place has much to do with the success or failure of an or-
chard. But it is equally evident, that favorable locations,
such as we have described, are very rare. Proximity to
a body of water is supposed by some to be a favorable
circumstance ; and some remarkable results are referred
to in support of this opinion. It is, no doubt true, that the
proximity of a bay, lake or large river materially allevi-
ates the seventy of winter ; and often prevents the inju-
rious effects of late frosts in the spring. These beneficial
results, however, are sometimes impaired, or entirely
neutralized, by counteracting ones ; and especially in the

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70 PEACH CULTURE.

case of peaches. The peach is a tender and dejlieate fruit,
ripens almost in a day and perishes in another, if not
eaten or preserved. It is exceedingly susceptible to at-
mospheric influences, and thousands of baskets have
perished on the trees in consequence of one warm wet
day. This was the case in Delaware, in 1867, when the
fruit rotted on the trees by car loads, for the want of dry
air and sunshine.

Now it has been found that orchards near water are
more exposed to this danger than others. Hence, it is
difficult to say whether or not it is advisable to select a
site on the margin of a water. The advantages seem to
be nearly equally balanced ; and the preponderance will,
perhaps, be generally determined by other considera-
tions. In former years, sites on the north sides of hills
were considered best by many, inasmuch as the ground
remained frozen much longer in the spring, thus retarding
the blooming of the blossoms until after severe frosts,
which it undoubtedly did. But closer and longer experi-
ence and observation have satisfied planters that there is
more danger from wifiter killing^ while the germ is her-
metically folded in its flower leaves, than from aprtng
/rosta. Hence, that it is more important to obtain a
shelter from the northern blasts of winter, than from the
late frosts of spring.

SOIL.

Thk character of the soil must not be overlooked.
Much will depend upon this, in general, but especially in
the culture and growth of the young trees. After the
orchard is established and in bearing, the difference will
not be so material. Along the whole Delaware Peninsula,
from Cape Charles, on the south, to the Delaware and
Chesapeake Canal on the north, the soil is so peculiarly
conducive to the production of the peach in all its rich
luxuriousness, that it is difficult to make a mistake in the

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SELECTING A SITE FOR AN OBCHARD. 71

soil. Here, perhaps, the only thing to be studiously avoid-
ed, is the low lands. Land that holds water is unfit for
fruit of any kind, but especially so for peaches. Avoid-
ing this, the cultivator can scarcely go wrong within the
limits mentioned.

I In general, any soil that is well adapted to com is good
for peaches. But a light, sandy loam is best. Quick
growth and rapid maturity, both of tree and fruit, are the
characteristics of the peach ; and a light, warm soil is a
necessary element in their production. The lighter the
soil, the earlier will the tree bear and the fruit ripen, and
the sooner will both fail

THE FIELD.

It is usual to plant an entire field, and often several.
As every planter wishes his plantation or farm to present
a handsome appearance to the public road or street, he
will, when selecting a site for an orchard, have regard to
this, and select a spot that will gratify this commendable
desire. Now, although orchards are very pretty in them-
selves, yet, as they hide every thing beyond them, it is
usually judicious to place them in the rear, where they
form a handsome background to a stately mansion and
beautiful lawn, flanked by waving fields of golden grain
and fragrant clover. Besides, as a general rule, they are
less exposed to depredations than when in front.

SHAPE.

Some regard should also be had to the shape of the
field to be planted. A long strip, or angular piece,
should be avoided, unless it is all the land on one side of
a road, or properly rounds oflT another orchard. Orchards
planted in squares, other things being equal, look best,
and are most convenient.

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72 PEACH CITLTUBB.

CHAPTER XIL

PLANTING AN ORCHARD.

After the selection, the preparation of the ground is
naturally the next thing in order. This is quite simple,
but often neglected. If there are any stumps, roots, or
stones, they should be removed. If left they wUl interfere
with the comfortable cultivation of the orchard, and may
some day injure a tree. An orchard may be planted after
any crop, but com stubble is, perhaps, a preferable ground.
If taste and neatness are to control, the ground will be
carefully plowed, harrowed, and rolled. But when hun-
dreds of trees are to be set in a short time, and speed and
economy are important objects, all this is seldom done.
It is quite common to do nothing more than plow the
ground. Even this is sometimes omitted ; and that, too,
without materially impairing the success of the job.
When the ground is not even plowed, it is prepared in
one of these two ways.

A beginning is made by running a furrow, at the dis-
tance of twenty feet, say, from the fence, in the direction
the first row is to run ; and another, and another, at the
same distance apart, until the ground has been gone
over. Cross furrows are then run at right angles with the
former, and at the same distances. The trees are planted
at the intersections.

The other way is very similar; the only material differ-
ence being, that instead of forming single furrows the first
time, a double one is i*un, and a ridge formed by throw-
ing two together. In order to do this accurately, begin
on the east side of the field to be planted, and run the
first furrow from north to south, nineteen feet from the

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PLANTING AN OBOHABD. tS

fence ; when at the south end, tarn to the rigJU^ and fUft
back to the place of starting at the distance of twent^^
one feet from the . fence. By so doing, the two f urtoWfl
will be thrown together, and the center of the rid^e
formed by these two furrows will be twenty feet from tne
fence, the distance designed for the first row of trees.
Another ridge twenty feet to the west of that will now
be formed in the same way, and so on until the requisite
nimiber has been made. If a beginning be made on the
west side of the field, the process will be the same, et-
cept that the first furrow will be twenty-one and the
second nineteen feet from the fence, reversing the first
order, but producing the same result. When these ridgOB
have been made, the cross furrows are also run in two
ways. The first is simply single furrows run at right
angles with the ridges, and twenty feet apart Thd
other is to run two furrows, one nineteen and the other
twenty-one feet from the fence, throwing the mold in op-
posite directions ; and thus forming the ridges into squares
whose sides are two feet. In the center of these squares,
the trees are planted. It is easily seen that by this meth-
od a dry seat is obtained for the young tree, as it is
drained on all sides, which is the only advantage. In
fall planting, especially when the land is low, we think
it is to be preferred, but not in the spring — ^indeed, unless
there is danger of drowning out the trees, during winter,
we would not recommend it.

When the ground has been prepared by running the
cross furrows or ridges, there is nothing more to do until
the planting begins. But when it has been plowed, bar-
rowed, and rolled, as at first described, the planter has a
choice of methods of marking, or " signing " out, his or-
chard. He can do it by simply running furrows and
cross furrows, at the proper distances, as heretofore men-
tioned, for ground that has not been plowed at all, and
which is done just as for corn, only that the rows are
4

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74 PEACH (JULTURE.

wider. But, if geometrical exactness is required, he will
have it staked off with chain and compass. This is sel-
dom, if ever, done in large peach growing districts, where
peaches are planted for profit, and where thousands, and
sojnetimes tens of thousands, in a single season by the
sanie proprietor. Besides, a careful man, with a quiet
team can run off the rows very well, and so as to neither
incommode the after tillage nor offend the eye by ir-
r^ular lines.

PLANTING.

When all things are ready, the planting begins. And
we remark here, that the same care is to be exercised to
prevent mixture or confusion of varieties, as at the nur-
sery. There should be only one variety in a row, and all
of the same variety should be planted together. This will
prove satisfactory when the fruit comes to be gathered.

We might here suggest another method, which we
have never seen adopted ; but, in view of the conveni-
ence of gathering, we think worthy of consideration ; it is
to plant the same variety in squares of 100, thus :

By this method great compactness will be attained.
For small orchards, where not more than two or three
hundred of the same variety are desired, we think it will
be found very convenient ; but when more are wanted,
it will not afford any additional advantage.

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PLANTING AN ORCHARD. 75

In planting an orchard, it is usual to plant a number of
varieties ; some early, some late, and some intermediate
ones. The object of this is two-fold. First, in order that
flucces B or failure may not depend altogether upon a sin-
gle variety, but upon many. Secondly, that the fruit
may ripen progressively, so that the planter will have a
supply for the market during the entire season. Also,
that he may be the better able to handle the crop, for
while it may be quite convenient to send ten thousand
baskets of a dozen varieties to market during a season of
six weeks, it may be quite impracticable to send the same
quantity, of one variety, in a single week. For these rea-
sons a selection is made, beginning with the earliest, and
ending with the latest.

One side of the orchard should be fixed upon as the
front. Here should be the entrance, and as near the
center as convenient, and from the entrance there should
be an avenue, or main way, through to the rear. This
should be at least thirty feet wide ; and, if large peach
wagons are to be used, more space will be required, or at
least a turning place at the far end.

The eariiest fruit should be planted next the entrance ;
and progressively to the rear, planting the latest last.
This will enable the planter to clear his orchard, as he
goes. The trees in front will be relieved, the limbs will
gradually regain their former position, little or no fruit
will be knocked off in gathering, and the good temper
both of the proprietor and hands be maintained.

The actual planting now begins by digging holes for the
trees. When the ground has been ridged, as above describ-
ed, they are made in the center of the ridge about a foot or
fifteen inches below the natural surface. We say natural
surface, because it will not do to place the young trees
on the top of the ridge. By doing this, they would be
simply planted upon a hillock, which would soon wear
away, leaving the trees without adequate moisture or

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76 • PEACH CULTURE.

Bupport. The ridge is simply to serve as a temporaay
pcoteistion agiainst water. After the first winter has pass-
ed, its use will have been ended. The roots of the young
tree should, therefore, find their home and sustenance in
the common level of the soil The ridges themselves,
the spring after planting, will be leveled down and in-
corporated with the other mold. ^

The holes at the crossings, in the other method, are
made fiHibstantially the same way. In any case, regard
should be had to the size of the roots, the character of
the soil, etc. The usual size is about eighteen inches,
square, and twelve or fifteeni inches deep. The admis-
sion of the roots without crowding or cramping is the
aim, and the intelligent operator can see at a glance what
the proper size should be.

When the soil is gravelly, or clayey, it is advisable to
make them larger, in order that when the young fibres
begin to grow, they may not have so compact a soil to
penetrate ; but in congenial ground this is unnecessary.

The trees are usually trimmed at the nursery, but some-
times they are not, and have to be trimmed when set
out. This is properly done by taking the young tree in
the left hand, immediately above the roots, and turning
up the latter. Then, with a sharp pruning knife, cut off
all injured roots, and shorten such straggling ones as ex-
tend more than a foot from the main stem. Now turn
the tree in ^he hand, and cut off smoothly and closely,
every limb for the distance of two feet. The tree is now
ready to plant. After the holes are dug, two hands, at
least, are necessary to plant. The trees are first dropped,
one at each hole. One of the hands throws a shovelful of
mold into the hole ; the other sets the tree therein in an
erect position, and holds it there. The first, shovels in the
dirt that was previously ta' en out ; or, if this is not suf-
ficiently rich or fine, he scoops up some of the surrounding
surface, and fills up the hole, a Uttle above the common

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PLANTING AN ORCHABD. 77

level, so as to Wed the Tain. AH the while, the second
band is irampmg the Soil closely around the root of the.
Ifree, sftid ^stilf maintaining it^ erect position.

The neict tree is set two oi* three hundred feet bejrond
the fil*st;^/an"id the third two or three hundred fecft beyond
th|fe second^ and so on t<> the end of the row. The 6bject of
this is to have sight trees or poihters^ and thus enable the
operators to obtain straight rows,^ which they seldom do,
wheii they, plant continuously from one end to the other.
DuHng the planting, they arre continually sighting the
row'sj and also the cross rowB, and drawing in, or shoving
outj^so as t^^'^et ; both in line. -This is d6n6 almost
instantly, lakes' far less time in tlie aggregate than is
, Supposed, ^and adds ^greatly to the appearance df the or*
chard. It is .not; cUjstomai^, to use any ifertilizer when
planting, but sonfetimes a handful of bone-dust or ashes
is placed in the hill; and itas^ no doubty beneficial.
. »Where the soil is clean and loose, the planting is very
rapid ;^nd two hands will dig the holes sCnd set five
hundred trees a day in the ligbt, mellow •soil of the Pen-
insula. Where it is less kind, the work will^ of coarse,
be slower.

TIME.,

The orchard may be planted in th^e fall or spring with
equal success. Some prefer the *former, and some the
latter. If the young tr^es have been grown in rich soil,
the wood will be somewhat soft and succulent ; and, if
planted in the fall, in severe latitudes, they will be very
inuch exposed, and may freeze down during the winter ;
whil^ if the same trees be kept heeled-in, ^nd thus pro-
tected, they will suffer little or no injury.

The advantages of fall planting are, that first-class trees
are more readily o\>tained, as.: th«i nurseries have not then
t>een culled, or the istock exhausted j as is often the case in

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78 PSACH CULTURK.

the Bpring. For this reason it is well to secure the trees
in the fall, even if they are not to be planted until spring.
The ground is generally in better order in the fall than in
the spring, and the planting can, in consequence, be d<Mie
in a more satisfactory manner. It is also a more convenient
season for the planter. His com has been harvested, his
fall work generally disposed of; and just before the win-
ter sets in, he can plant his orchard. For these reasons
we prefer the fall ; but if more convenient, we should not
hesitate to plant in the spring. Our experience justifies
this conclusion. We commenced planting an orchard in
the fall of 1867 ; but, before we finished, we were over-
taken by winter ; the residue of the trees were heeled-in
until the next spring, when they were planted. In the sum-
mer of 1869, we could not tell which looked best. Both
did very well. In the fall, planting may commence as
soon as the leaves can be rubbed off with the hand, and
continue until winter stops the work. In spring, it may
commence as soon as the ground is dry enough, and con-
tinue until the buds come out.

CHAPTER Xm.
ORCHARD CULTIVATION.

FIRST TRIMMING.

When the trees are planted in the fall, it is preferable
to leave a few branches towards the top of the stem.
They serve as a sort of shield to fiosts of winter.
When planting is done in the spring, the trees should be
trimmed close and smooth like a rod, every limb taken
off, and the tops cut down to a uniform height of not less
than two feet and a half, nor more than three and a hal£

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ORCHARD CULTIVATION. 79

Three feet is a very good height. Those planted in the
fall, should be treated in the very same way in the spring
following. This should be done as early in the spring as
the weather will admit, as it is desirable to confine all the
ascending sap to the stem, and not let it be wasted in the
branches which are to be cut off Some uninformed and
inexperienced planters often leave a few branches, hoping
thereby to induce earlier fruiting; but it has no such
effect, but rather retards it ; for it should always be re-
membered, that fruit is only produced on wood of the
previous year's growth ; so that these branches on the
trees when planted, never can produce fruit, unless it be
the first season. This very seldom occurs, and is never
desirable.

CROPPING.

The usual crop cultivated in a young peach orchard, is
com — small grains, never. It is believed, that if the
ground was merely cultivated between the rows, kept
loose and clear of weeds and grass, the young trees would
make more rapid growth; and to cultivate with low
vegetables, such as potatoes, cabbages, and so forth, would
be better than com. But it is too long to wait for a re-
turn, to leave the ground idle until the peaches come in ;
and the acreage is too great, to cultivate it all in potatoes
or other root crop. It is, therefore, cultivated in the
favorite crop, com. And this is perhaps the best after
all, as the injury to the young orchard is but slight,
while the return is considerable.

The ground is prepared in the spring as any other. It
is plowed, harrowed, sometimes rolled, and then marked
out and planted, with four rows between each row of
trees. It is done in this way : Run a furrow for a row of
corn four feet from the row of trees ; then another four
feet from that one ; a third four feet from the last, and a
fourth four feet from the third. The distances will count

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80 PBACH CULTUBE.

thus : From row of trees to first row of com, 4 feet ; from
^rst row of corn to second, 4 feet ; from second to third
row of com, 4 feet ; from the third to the fourth, 4 feet ;
and from the fourth row of com to the next row of trees,
4 feet ; in all, twenty feet. As no frirrow can be run,
between the trees and on the same line, the spaces are filled
up by hand and hoe, without any furrow. It will be seen
from this, that each tree occupies precisely the space of
one hill of com ; that is, a square each side of which is
four feet. This is sufficient the first season. The second,
the rows may be reduced to three ; the third to two ;
after which, if the orchard has grown well, and comes into
bearing, it will not be desirable to crop it at all. But
planters often cultivate four rows all the while.

SECOND TRIMMING.

In the month of June after planting, an intelligent and
careful man shoulct go through the orchard with hifl
pruning knife, and lop off every limb and sucker nearer
than two feet and a half to the ground. He should also
cut in any straggling limbs that have gone far beyond
the general contour of the head. It will also in some cases
be judicious to thin out some, on one side or the other, in
order to give the tree a proper balance and handsome
shape. It is of great importance that this work be timely
and properly done ; for if the suckers and low limbs be
not cut off, they will not only spoil the shape of the tree,
but exhaust its strength and greatly retard its growth.
If the trinmiing is timely and judiciously done, the limbs
that are left will grow strong and vigorous, the wood will
ripen early, and the vitality of the tree be preserved.

At the time this trinmiing takes place, if any diseased,
scrubby, or incurably ill-shaped trees are found, they
should be carefully noted, in order that they may be re-
placed the next fall. This should be done thus: let

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OBCHABD CULUVATION. 81

the pmner have a little memorandoin, and enter therein
the number of such trees in each row, giving also the num-
ber of the row and the variety. By this means the planter
will know exactly, how many trees of each variety he
will need, and in what rows the vacancies occur, and all
without the expense and trouble of a recount.

The more effectually to insure the proper substitution,
the faulty trees should be pulled up, broken down, or
otherwise destroyed.

HEIGHT OF HEAD.

There is some diversity of opinion in regard to the
height of the head of a tree ; or rather at what height the
head should be allowed to commence to form. We think
three /eet the proper height. Allowing the limb^ to stand
at this point, they will naturally stry^e, upward at an
acute angle with the steni, and thus allow room enough
to cultivate around them with a mule or low horse. And
this is important to the cultivator ; for if thje trees, instead
of being plowed around, have to be dug or spaded, the
expense will be considerably increased.

The arguments advanced by those who advocate low
heads are two. First : that the fruit is nearer the ground,
more easily picked, and not so likely to break down the
branches. Second: that the low heads withstand the
storm better, and are not so easily blown down. But
the answer to all this is, that when the heads are low, the
fruit does not ripen early or well on the low branches,
and is generally small in size and inferior in quality. In
time, the lower branches for the want of sufficient air and
light, die, and have to be removed, thus leaving the tree
with less bearing wood or in worse shape than if it had
been trimmed up to the proper height at first. In regard
to the exemption from injury by stoims, it is ascertained,
from experience and observation, that very few trees are
4*

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82 PSACH CXTLTUBB.

ever blown down, or even injured by ordinary storms, and
as to tornadoes or hurricanes, low beads give no protec-
tion. It is admitted the fruit can be more easily gathered
from low than high trees ; but this advantage is but
slight, and no adequate compensation for what is lost.

The character of the head is formed the first year, and
it will need but little attention thereafter. The tiimming
directed for June, however, should be repeated about the
last of August. If well done on those two occasions, all
that will be necessary in subsequent years will be to cut
out dead and broken branches. Peach trees do not form
close, compact heads, like apples and pears ; and, conse-
quently, do not need thinning.

CUTTING-IN.

Some maintain that the peach tree should be ciU4n an-
nuaUy. This is done by cutting off about one-half of
each year's growth the same season, or early the next
spring. When the sap reaches this point, it is, of course,
checked, and sends out several new branches, instead of
following the old one, as it would have done, had not that
been cut in. In this way, more bearing wood is pro-
duced nearer the main stem and nearer the ground. We
believe it is an advantage; and, in the case of young
trees, may do very well ; but when the trees attain full
size, it would require much labor, and be attended with
considerable expense ; and, taking into view the fact, that
the trees hardly ever bear three years in succession, it is
believed that cutting-in would not pay. For garden cul-
ture, or even small orchards, it may be adopted; but
when trees are counted by thousands, and tens of thou-
sands, few will find it convenient or profitable. There is
still another advantage claimed for cutting-in, and which
we do not wish to undervalue. It is, that it invigorates
and prolongs the life of the tree. We think this is so,

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' OBGHABD CULTIVATION. 83

and that a tree cut-in annually will remain longer thrifty
than one not so treated. The leaves will be greener, the
young bearing wood more abundant, and the fruit larger
and richer. But in a congenial soil, where orchards are
nearly as easily renewed as strawbemes, and where the
trouble and expense of cutting-in are considerable, it will
not be often resorted to.

PLOWING.

Tbe orchard should be plowed at least twice during
the year. Once between the middle of April and the
middle of May ; and again between the middle of Septem-
ber and the middle of October; each time vnth a small plow.
A small plow is preferable, because it can be easily handled
and guided among the trees and about the roots without
injury ; and also because a large plow makes the fuiTowB
too deep, and thereby cuts the roots. The furrows should
be narrow, so that the ground may be well broken. The
rows of trees are first plowed around with a low horse or
mule, so that he can walk close up to the trees. The
single-tree used should not be more than eighteen inches
long, and the ends should be covered with stiff leather
shields. The horse should be muzzled to keep him
from biting the trees. Both these precautions should be
taken whenever an orchard is plowed, but in plowing
amongst young trees, it is doubly important. The fur-
rows, in the spring, are thrown from the tree; in the fall,
toioarda them. The reason of this is, that in spring, when
growth commences, it is not advantageous, but rather in-
jurious to the tree to have any soil piled around it. The
light and air are wanted to act on the roots. The rains
also, trickle down the branches and stems, and thus reach
the roots. A pile of earth, therefore, around the roots,
sheds the water, and prevents its proper distribution.
But in the fall, after the growth has been made and the

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84 PBACH CULTUBB.

fruit gathered, the tree needs rest, the less water about
the stem the better. The earth thrown up about the root
is then a positive advantage, as it not only sheds the
winter rams in some degree, but it also serves as a mulch
to protect from injury. This tender part is what is called
the *' neck," and extends about an inch above, and two
below the surface. Here, then, is a constant ebb
and flow of heat, and operating in contrary directions
at different seasons. In summer the air is warmer than
the earth ; but in winter, colder. The surface line marks
the limit of these two influences ; and from their constant
fluctuations, it is always a tender point, and liable to be
attacked by disease.

In plowing around the trees, about two circuits are
made. The middles are then broken up with two horses
or mules, and a somewhat larger plow ; but a very large
plow should never be used. When the ground is thus
plowed, it is carefully harrowed, or cultivated down, un-
til every clod is broken, and the whole surface left as
smooth as a garden. In doing this, one horse and a small
harrow is used around the trees, and two horses and a
larger one in the middles. In wet seasons, foul land, or
very rich soil, the cultivations may have to be repeated
oftener than have been mentioned heretofore in this
chapter. Indeed^ the best planters now cultivate their
orchards as they do their com, about four or five times
between the spring plowing and the first of July.

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COMING m. 85

CHAPTER XIV.

COMING IN.

A full crop of peaches may usually be expected the
fourth year after planting. Thus, an orchard planted in
the fall of 1865, yields a full crop of peaches in 1869.
When we say a fuU crop, we mean a basket to the tree.
This is a full crop for trees of that age and size, and quite
as much as they ought to bear. Some, however, will bear
two baskets instead of one, and others will not have half
a basket. Something depends upon variety, culture, and
so on. Sometimes it is very difficult to account for the
difference in production. But there are some varieties
that uniformly bear large crops, and others that as uni-
formly bear small ones ; the Troth, or Old Mixon^ is an
instance of the former^ and Susqnehanna of the latter.

From years, however, of observation, it is found that
certain varieties are not only much more fruitful than
others, but commence bearing much earlier. Whether
or not they continue as long, is a question not so well
settled, as there has not been time enough for observa-
tion. From present indications it would seem that they
do ; but longer experience and closer observation will be
needed to test it thoroughly.

We have said a full crop may be expected in four
years. Of course this general statement should be quali-
fied by the remark that it is not to be expected if the
season be inimical. If there is a failure generally, the
young trees will share the fate of the old ones.

Again, they often begin to bear earlier. We have seen
trees, planted in the spring, mature perfect fruit the
same fall ; and we have now, July 1869, young trees full

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86 PBACH CULTURE.

of fruit that were planted in the fall of 1867. They^ are,
however, all of one variety, Hale's Early, which is re-
markable for its early bearing as well as its early ripen-
ing, but many of these will yet fall off before full ma-
turity. Sometimes fruit will appear the second, and others
the third year. It is not generally desirable that trees
should bear when very young. It is injurious in two
ways. It weakens the tree itself in diverting the vital
forces from the formation of wood into the production of
fruit, oftentimes giving the tree a lasting tendency
to feebleness. At an early age neither the stem nor
the branches are able to bear a load of fruit, and they
often break down under its weight. The tree is thus
permanently injured both in usefulness and beauty.

The sum of the matter is, that trees do sometimes bear
emen the first year, which is to be regretted ; often the
second, which is not to be desired ; very often the third,
which is gratifying ; and nearly always the fourth, which
is to be expected and desired

When fruit appears the first year, it should be rubbed
off, in order to protect the tree. A single peach may
sometimes be left to gratify the enthusiastic planter.
The second year thrifty, vigorous trees may be allowed
to carry a dozen. The third year, two or tree times as
many. The fourth, whatever they produce.

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BASKETS AND CRATES.

87

CHAPTER XV.

BASKETS AND CRATES.

Fi§. 11. —CHIP BASKET.

We have now followed the peach from the kernel to.
the mature tree, loaded with its rich burden of delicious
and health-giving fruit.

The next thing is to get it to market. But before this
is done, several preliminary matters have to be arranged.
And amongst these, Baskets and
Crates are prominent. The standard
size of a peach basket is five-eighths
of a bushel, struck measure. This
size has been adopted and fixed by
the " Peninsular Fruit Qrower^a Aa-
soctcUioTiy^ and upon it all collateral
calculations are made. The baskets
are usually about eight inches in
diameter at the bottom, flaring to about sixteen inches at
the top. They are always made of wood, but in various
ways. Some, of the old-fashioned white-oak splits, which
are the most durable and substantial ; others of staves,
with a solid bottom, which are neater
but not so strong ; and others again,
of broad bass-wood splits, very light,
neat and handsome. These last are
furnished also with a light frame lid
fastened with a wire, which makes
them very desirable for shipping by
express, or when they are not ex-
pected to be returned. Still another
is recommended by some, and is said
to be popular in the West. It is firkin-shaped, has three
hoops, and contains one-third of a bushel. It is a stave
basket, the staves being of tulip or poplar wood — of

Fig. 12,— STAVE
BASKET.

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88 PEACH CULTURE.

course pther varieties would answer equally well — the ends
and covers of pine. It is made on an iron frame of three
ii-on discs and spindle. The inner and outer l)oops are set
in the top, a stave put in place, then
1 another, and so on all round. Some-
times the staves are pierced to admit
the air. All these have their special
merit. The first will last for years, so
far as mei'e wear and tear is concerned,
■ But old' baskets, when they become
Fig.^s.— BKBCHEB faded, make a poor appearance, and
BASKET. planters generally discard them, be-

lieving that they lose more in the price of their fruit than
would pay for new ones. Hence the durability is not so
much of an object as lightness and neatness.

The stave basket is preferred by some, because, being
smooth inside, the peaches do not lodge on the sides as
they do to some degree in the old split baskets. But, un-
less the fruit is quite ripe, which it never should be when
picked, it is believed very little injury results from this
cause.

Whatever baskets may be adopted, they should be
procured in good time, as it often happens that just in the
height of the season, when most needed, they are most
difficult to obtain.

The quantity a planter may need will depend, not only
upon the size of his crop, but also upon his distance from
market, and the prompt attention of his consignees and
transporters in returning his baskets. If he send his
fruit by rail, a distance not exceeding two hundred miles,
the baskets should be returned to him the third day. If
four hundred miles, which is about as far as mature
peaches can be sent with safety, on the fifth day. This
is plenty of time and rather more than faithful and ex-
pert consignees and transporters will require. But we
often find, that through the carelessness or dishonesty of

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BASKETS AND CRATES. 89

these agents, the time greatly exceeds this, aud many
baskets are never returned at all. When not so returned,
regular business consignees pay for the baskets at whatever
may be fixed upon as their full value ; but the sharpers and
extemporized dealers usually manage to elude responsibil-
ity, and cheat their patrons out of the baskets that have
been lost through their carelessness, or which they have
sold with the peaches for reshipment, and for which they
have received the money.

But suppose the planter to live two hundred miles
from market, and have ten thousand baskets of fruit ; how
many baskets should he need ? We ascertain it thus :

The quantity is ten thousand baskets, and the time in
which they are to be shipped will not exceed sixty work-
ing days. Divide 10,000 by 60, and we have 166 *|, bas-
kets as the average daily shipment for the season. Did
not this average vary, were the baskets promptly return-
ed, we would then need just five hundred baskets to ship
our entire crop of ten thousand. .The operation would
be this: Monday we ship 16$; Tuesday 167; and Wed-
nesday 167, equal 600. On Wednesday evening, Mon-
day's baskets come back, and are ready for Thursday's
shipment; and so, in regular succession, through the
season. But no matter how judiciously orchards have
been planted, with a view to uniform and successive ripen-
ing, it is found in practice, that sometimes much more
fruit will ripen than at others. Hence, the necessity of
providing for the excess over the ^neral average. In a
^ matter that in its nature is fluctuating, we can only ap-
proximate exactness. In ordinary cases, twenty-five per
centum will be a liberal allowance. This would require
the planter to have 625 baskets; ^Lhd this should :hQ
what he would need. But what prudent man would
undertake to send a crop of ten thousand baskets ill BJix
hundred and twenty-fivef? The r^aso)^ be can not 'do it is,
consignees sell or lend them to ti>eit ret^l custom^r^, or

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90 PEACH GULTUBE.

neglect to put them in return cars ; and railroad ageota
neglect to deliver at the right place, deliver too late, or
do not deliver at all ; and the planter has to provide for
all these contingencies at considerable expense and loss ; so
that, instead of650 baskets, he provides from 4,000 to 5,000
or four or five times as many as he ought to need. This
abuse, however, is now attracting attention, and will no
doubt be corrected, either in reforming the old, or employ-
ing new agents.

The estimates here given are based on the usual prac-
tice amongst planters of planting early, medium and late
fruit to run through the season. But some plant only a
few favorites. In such instances, many more baskets will
be required, because the fruit will ripen more nearly to-
gether. For instance, a planter has ten thousand baskets
of Hale's Early, Troth's Early, and Early York, in equal
proportions. Now, instead of running sixty working
days, they would not run more than twenty. And instead
of sending 166 per day, he would send 500. Monday he
will need 500 ; Tuesday 500, and Wednesday 500; 1,500
in the aggregate before he gets any back. Add to this
25 per cent and he should have 1,875, were his agents
honest and faithful. As he finds them, he must provide
a basket for every basket of fruit, to be reasonably
assured that he will have sufficient. This abuse in regard
to baskets is very annoying to planters, and greatly di-
minishes their profits. It should be promptly corrected.
It is wholly inexcusable.

CRATES.

^ The standard dimensions of a crate are eight inches
wide, fourteen deep, and twenty-three and a half long,
outside measure. They are made of pine or other light
wood. The ends and partition are sawed three-quarters of
an inch thick, seven and a half wide, and fourteen long.

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BASKETS AND CBATBS. 91

The bottom and top twenty-three and a half long, six
and a half wide, and three-eighths of an inch thick. The
sides are composed of four slats, twenty-three and a half
inches long, two and a half inches wide, and also three-
eighths of an inch thick. Sometimes lighter stuff is used.
The ends and partition are thicker, because to these
all the other peoes are nailed. The whole crate consists
of thirteen pieces. It is very simple in construction, and
any intelligent hand, with a proper frame, can put it up
without difficulty. The stuff is sometimes planed on the
outside, which gives it a much neater appearanca Crates

of this kind cost about ten
dollars per hundred. They
go with the peaches, and
are never returned ; hence,
those who ship in crates
must provide as many
crates as they have fruit to
fill them. The reasons they
are not returned, are two. First : they cannot be packed
in each other like baskets, hjft occupy precisely as much
room as when full. Besides, they are much more trouble-
some to handle, and the transporters will not return
them free of charge as they do baskets. Secondly : they
are usually reshipped or sent at once to a distant market,
and sold with the peaches.

The relative merits and advantages of shipping in bas-
kets and crates depend on circumstances. If the planter
is shipping fruit to be sold in the New York or Philadel-
phia market, he will find it profitable to ship in baskets,
as it is better displayed, and presents a more inviting ap-
pearance. But if he ships to more distant points, or
only to the great commercial centers for reshipment,
crates are preferable, as the fruit is better protected, and
bears rougher handling.

Shipping by express is done almost exclusively in crates.

14.— CBATB.

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92 PEACH CULTURE.

CHAPTER XVL
TRANSPORTATION.

i

The subject of IVansportation has been,.aiad still is, one
of great interest and considerable difficulty^as \irell as the
souroe of no small amount of bad feeling to peaeh growers
on the Delaware Peninsula. The pet^qhtrade itself is bat
of recent date, and its rapid growth has becfn unprecedent-
ed,' Ten years ago it was insignificant; now it is fully
equal to two millions and a half bask^ets in a fruitful season.
At first, the charge for transportation by rail to Philadel-
phia was six cents per basket,' and. to "New York twelve.
But the charges have beten constantly increasing ever since,
until in 1867, they were to P];iiladeiphi4 thirteen, and to
New York, thirty-six and a half cents. On a comparison
of the charges on peaches with those for transportation of
other articles, the unreasonableness was so apparent, that
gi^atdissatisfacdon was- felt' amongst gi^wers, andineana
of redress were soughti >* -' „ *

For this -purpose a vconYtotio>n of fViiit Omwers was
held in the Capitol at Dovei^ on the 15th of October, 1B67,
and a pernianent organization' effected under 'the name of
the " Peninsula I^hiit Growers^ Association.'^^ One of
the main objects of this association was to obtain a reduc-
tion of freight to New York. A large committee of influ-
ential and intelligent gentlemen was appointed to coiifer
with the ofiicers of the raUroad companies, and endeavor
to make a satisfactory arrangement. Several conferences
took place accordingly, and a reduction nearly equivalent
to ten cents per basket was obtained for the year 1868.
But as there were no pesfcches that year, it amounted to
no practical advantage. -It was not satisfactory, imyhow,
to a large portion of the peach growers, and very justly
soVfortho charges weto^stiU extortionate, and' tcJtally

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utLJUBtifiable on any principle of right and wrong ; being
about ybz^r times as much as for any other freight of its
class. Indeed the object of the railroad companies seem-
ed to be to appropriate, in the fonn of freights, all the
profits of the crop, and leave the growers only enough to
pay for production, picking and selling. But this unjust
and dishonest conduct, on the part of the railroad compa-
nies, had the eflfect of arousing public indignation, and
directing public attention to other means of transporta-
tion. It was soon found that most of the fruit could
be sent much cheaper and in much better order by wat6r ;
and now lines of steamers are forming between New York
and Philadelphia, and the several harbors on the bay-side.
In order that interior growers may reach the bay, a
steam-tug is to be employed in every creek to convey
schooners and other small craft down the creeks to the
principal stations. By this means most of the fruit can be
carried to the great cities, in good time, in better order,
and much cheaper than if sent by rail. The rates have
not yet been permanently fixed, but it is believed they
will not vary much from fifteen cents per basket to New
York, or a little over half what they are by railroad.

Besides this, there are new lines of roads building,
which will afford still greater facilities, and reduction
of freights.

The route and line by which to ship the fruit, what-
ever they may be, should be selected as early as con-
venient, that is, as soon as all the accessible infoima-
tion can be obtained. The next thing to be looked
after, is the engagement of the requisite number of cars or
boats, and to aiTange the time of their departure and
arrival. Peaches are perishable, and it will not do to leave
their transportation to the opportunities or contingencies
of the hour. A complete running schedule must be fixed
upon, and must be run with certainty, or the shipper
may suffer great loss during the season.

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94 PBACH CULTURE.

CHAPTER XVIL

CONSIGNEES.

In the cities of Philadelphia and New York there is a
a class of men known as commission merchants and prod-
uce dealers. They have stands or stalls in the markets,
or in some of the streets where fruits and vegetables are
principally sold. But their more profitable and import-
ant business in a fruitful season is to sell fruit, and espe-
cially peaches, on commission. The distance between
Philadelphia and the center of the peach district being
only about seventy-five miles, the time very short, and
only the smaller portion of the crop sent there, the com-
mission men seldom make any very special effort to obtain
the trade, or arrangement for its delivery. They rely upon
the ordinary provisions of the roads and steamboats. But
not so with those of New York. The great bulk of the crop
is sent there ; the competition is very brisk, and it, conse-
quently, requires special efforts, and complete arrange-
ments to secure patronage. Hence, as soon as it is ascer-
tained, to a reasonable certainty, that there will be a
crop, the commission men visit the peach district in per-
son, or send expert agents, to secure consignments and
engage cars and shipping agents. They first estimate the
crop ; then engage the number of cars requisite to trans-
port the consignments that will be made to them ; and
then the local shippers at the different stations where
peaches are to be delivered. This completes the arrange-
ment at the producing end of the line. At the sale end,
carts are engaged to haul the fruit from Jersey City, the
end of the railroad line, to points of sale or reshipment in

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COXSI6XEES. 95

New York. A portion of the fruit is sold at the stands of
the consignees ; the rest is sold to other parties at whole-
sale, and reshipped to Boston, Providence, Albany,
Montreal, and elsewhere.

. Some of the consignees are upright, honest men, who
do a fair and legitimate business, on business principles ;
but some of them are swindlers and sharpers, whose sole
object is to make money for the time, and who have no
reputation to lose, and who do not aim to gain one. These
are unscrupulous in their statements, importunate in their
solicitations for consignments, and wholly unreliable in
making returns. They often advertise in religious papers,
obtain some credulous, or good natured man, to certify to
their characters and qualifications, obtain consignments
upon the faith of them, and cheat their dupes out of all
they send them. This may be regarded as the most dis-
reputable class. There is another, however, as dishonest,
but more politic. The members of this class wish to main-
tain good reputations, and, at the same time, fill their
pockets with what justly belongs to others. They do it
in one or other of these ways : The fruit consigned to them
is nearly always of different grades ; from very good to
poor. If they have stands of their own, where they sell
by retail, they will select a portion, it may be a fifth, a
fourth, or a third, of the choicest for themselves, and sell
the remainder at an average price of seventy-five cents
per basket, which may be a fair enough price foV such fruit.
But the fruit the dealer has taken to his own stand would
J readily bring a dollar and a half per basket. However,
he returns the whole consignment at seventy-five cents,
and pockets the difference. To illustrate. Let us suppose
Peter Pence consigns to John Sly two hundred and fifty
baskets of graded peaches. Fifty are very fine ; one hun-
dred are good ; seventy-five are fair ; and twenty-five are
poor:

The proper market price would be thus presented :

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96 PBACH CULTTTBE.

60 Baskets fine at |i.50 per basket, $75.00

100 « good « 1.00 " « 100.00

75 " fair " 75 " « 56.25

25 " poor " 60 " " 12.50

Total, $243.75

200 Baskets at 75 cents - - 150.00

The difference is - - $93.75
Or if the consignee is very smarts and wishes to make a
pretense of great exactness, he will make out a detailed
account thus :

50 Baskets at $1.00 - - $50.00

100 " "75 . - 75.00

75 " "50 . . 37.50

25 « "40 • - 10.00

Total, - - . $172.50

Difference, - - $71.25

This difference the dishonest consignee pockets, and
absolutely cheats his confiding customer out of this
amount in a single transaction. Others manage it different-
ly. Sell for all they can and return what they please. If
the market is very good, and prices high, they may sell a
whole consignment at $1.50 per basket, and return $1.25,
or, if the market is, on the contrary, glutted, they may
sell for 75 cents, and return 65, and so on ; their returns
depending altogether upon their own cupidity, fear of de-
tection, or loss of patronage. We have reliable informa-
tion that some parties have actually made enough in a
single season from these swindling operations, to retire
from business altogther. And we know one firm, whose
business was very extensive, but whose derelictipn in this
respect was so gross, that not a single planter patronized
them a second season. They run dear out

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CONSIGNEES. 07

Sach gross fraud can hardly occur in any other l)usi-
T^ess; but is comparatively easy in this. The fruit is
perishable ; it has no standard value ; the market prices
fluctuate with the supply, the temperature, and even the
hour of its arrival Hence it is almost impossibile to
know, or even guess, what it should bring. And this is
the reason that consignors cannot protect themselves
against these fraudulent practices. Their only safety is
in the honesty of their consignees. Of this they judge
by the season's returns. If they are consistent through-
out the season, and a fair average price is realized, the
planter is usually satisfied. One ships to one agent, and
another to another. They can compare notes. If the
man who has the worst peaches gets the best price, the
other may be reasonably certain, he has been cheated.
But if the fruit is equally good, and the price for the
same days nearly the same, both may reasonably conclude
they have been honorably dealt with. The rule is not in-
fallible : for there may be collusion, or both may be
equally dishonest.

But the planter can do nothing more than exercise his
best judgment in the selection of his consignee. It is
very important he should do this ; and after he has gain-
ed aU the information he can, he will at last have to com-
mit himself to the keeping of somebody, and run the risks
which are incident to his business.

Old shippers are wary and alert. New ones should
consult them, and avail themselves of their advice ; re-
membering the old proverb, that " experience teaches a
dear school."

Then again, abuses may, and should be, remedied ; and
if the planters on the Peninsula would but consult their
own interest, abuses would soon cease. The cure is in
their own hands. But it requires combined action, and
herein lies the difficulty. There is not one of them who
would not willingly and cheerfully give ten times the time
5

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98 PEAt'H < rLTURK.

and money necessary to effectuate the object, coald he do
so individually ; but because it requires united efforts,
meetings, differences, and discussions, it is not done, and
thousands, yes, tens of thousands of dollars are lost every
year. One object of the Peninsula JFhnt Orotoerc* Asso-
ciation was to insure unity of interest and purpose. With
this view, it embraced the entire Peninsula, which fur-
nishes nearly all the peaches sent to Philadelphia and
New York. But so far, it has not enlisted nearly all the
planters. Most of the large ones, it is true, are members,
but still a large number have stood aloof, and, while it is
believed they approve of the Association and its aims, yet
they have not taken interest enough in it to give it their
active support. Some of them expect to reap the ad-
vantages without the incidental expenses of time and
money. Others do not unite from the mere force of a
habit, which repels them from all associations whatever.
In this way the Association is not able to do all the good
it otherwise might. Did it include all the planters of the
Peninsula, as was intended by its founders, it is easily
seen it would control the peach market, and might dic-
tate its own terms. One of its first and most obvious
objects then would be to establish a depot, or mart, of its
own in Philadelphia and New York, where all its fruit
would be sold by its own agents. This would dispense
with consignees or middle men altogether, and would be
a benefit to both producer and consumer ; as the latter
would be better served, at no greater, if not a reduced,
price, while the former would obtain what the fruit was
worth in the market. Until this be done, the nlanters
need not expect to avoid imposition and fraud.

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LADDEBS. m

CHAPTER XVm.

LADDERS.

The ladders used in the peach orchard are about ten
feet high, and are self-supporting. They are all of one
general model, although differing somewhat in construc-
tion. The most approved is made of two boards, six in-
ches wide and one thick, for the sides ; into these are
grooved and mortised steps of the same width. On the
top there is a board about eight or ten inches broad for
setting the basket, and also for the picker to stand on

Fig. 15.— STEP LADDEB. ¥if^. 16 —CHEAP LADDER.

while picking the highest peaches. Through the top runs
an iron rod, or wooden rung, which fastens the support.
This latter consists of two poles or narrow pieces of scant-
ling, fastened together by cross-bars, such as shingling
lath, which rotates on the rod or rung, and can be drawn
out from, or up to, the steps at will Both the ladder and
support are wider at the bottom than at the top, which
insures against toppling over.
A simple and cheaper ladder is made by taking four

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100 PBACH CULTUBB,

pieces of Bhingling lath of the required length, nailing
two strips of the same material opposite each other on two
of them for a step, and as many thus as there may be
steps required, and a board across the top ones for a rest
for the basket. Then take the other two pieces of lath,
and connect them by single rods or rungs for the support,
boring holes through them at the top for the connecting
rod with the steps. The upper edges of the strips in the
ladder proper serve instead of the regular step in the first
described. In order to stand finnly, the ladder and sup-
port are both wider at the bottom than at the top as the
first.

Various other contrivances are used for the same pur-
pose.

CHAPTER XIX.

SHIPPING.

In this, as in most other business, there is a class of
men called shippers. They are generally in connection
with the consignees in the city, and divide the commissions.
They are always identified with the local interest, and
generally have the confidence of the planters. They en-
gage cars, employ hands to receive the fruit from the
wagons, and store it properly in them. They are a very
useful adjunct to the trade as at present conducted ; but
if the railroad companies would do their duty, and employ
faithftil and efficient agents in sufficient force, there
would be no need whatever of shippers^ so called, and
the expanse of their employment would be altogether
saved to the planter. But, as these companies have hither-
to fjiil^d altogether in their duty in this regard, shippers

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SHIPPING. 101

are a necessity, except to the large planters, who can
charter their own ears. For it will not justify a man who
has only a few thousand baskets to sell, to go to much
trouble and expense in order to get them to market ; and
he, therefore, finds shippers both a convenience and a
profit.

The cars are prepared especially for the purpose. They
are intended to carry five hundred baskets, weighing
about sixteen thousand pounds. They are furnished with
shelving to receive this quantity. The shelving consists
of stays and boards to set the baskets on, so that one bas-
ket does not rest on another, and thereby injure the fruit.
It is a temporary, movable frame-work, taken down and
set up at pleasure, and, in fact, at every loading. In filling
a oar, the fruit is received at the middle, and stowed away
at each end ; the shelves being put up, as required, from
rear to the center ; when filled, the doors are shut and
locked, and so remain until they reach their destination.
The cars are ventilated in order to keep the fruit from
heating and rotting. When the weather is very dry, and
the road dusty, considerable dust is introduced through
the ventilators ; but, as the cars are at present constructed,
it seems unavoidable. It is believed, however, that by a
properly constructed and furnished car, this could be
effectually prevented. For this reason it is much prefer-
able to ship in boats where it is practicable.

BOATS.

( Shipping by boats, although always preferable where it
can be done, is usually attended with more trouble in the
first instance. The railroad is prompt, speedy, and punc-
tual. All this the boats may also be, and usually are. But
the railroad remains constant and continuously throughout
the year. This the boats cannot be. Except during the
peach season, there is no sufiicient trade to keep them
employed, and lines have to be extemporized for the

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102 PBACH CULTURE.

occasion. This requires negotiation, correspondence,
interviews, and some responsibility. Some people do not
know how or where to go about it ; others, are too cau-
tious to enter upon it ; while others, again, have not in-
terest enough to undertake it. Were it not for the
eztoitionate charges of the railroad companies, they would
transport nearly all the peaches. As it is, the boats take
a very respectable portion. These evils, however, will
correct themselves as the importance of the trade increases.
The boats will either make complete arrangements for
carrying from all accessible points; or the companies
will reduce their rates by rail to a reasonable figure. At
present the boats carry for fifly per cent less than the
cars, and make more money than by any other freight.
Such a business will soon attract the attention of steam-
boat men seeking employment for their vessels ; especially
as the hight of the peach trade occurs at a season when
there is usually a dearth in other freights.

CHAPTER XX.
PICKING.

The planter, having procured liis baskets, selected his
route and means of transportation, and engaged his con**
signee, now patiently awaits the maturity of his fruit.

The picking commences with the earliest varieties
about the tenth of July, and the season closes with the
latest about the end of September.

But in old orchards there are often some trees that ripen
their fruit in advance even of the earliest varieties. They
are decayed or diseased, and the fruit is not perfect, and
often small and of very inferior flavor. The peaches are

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PICKING. 103

called " Prematures " and, although very inferior, sell for
a good price, simply because they come in before any other.
They are usually bought by keepers of restaurants for pies.
We have seen them sent by express five hundred miles,
and sold for from five to six dollars a crate, when they
then would not have brought fifty cents at home. And
afterwards, we have seen in the same market, the choicest
ripe and luscious fruit of nearly a pound's weight, go a beg-
ging for purchasers at two dollars per crate ! Such is the
influence of circumstances. But to the planter, who raises
fruit for profit, the " Prematures " are of more value than the
mature peaches, and it is important to him to pick them
as they ripen, and send them off. He must, therefore,
provide for it in time. The quantity is so small, and the
coming in so early, that no special peach transportation
will have been provided; he mil, therefore, have to send
by express or the ordinary freight. Some people suppose
" Prematures " unhealthy : but we have used them habitu-
ally in our family, for sauce and pies, without the slightest
bad efiect ; and as they come in advance of the mature
fruit, we relish them very much. We never use them
uncooked ; and this leads us to say a word on nnnpe fniit»
Some persons are so nervously anxious to get in early
fruit before their neighbors, or so avaricious and indiffer-
ent to the rights of others, that they will pick their fruit
before it matures. This is an evil that must be corrected ;
no just person will do it, because he knows it is wrong ;
he knows it is not fit to use, and that he would not use it
himself To sell it to others, is, therefore, a violation of
the golden rule. But as some persons do not goveni
themselves by the principles of honor and religion, but
only by those of pure selfishness, it is necessary for the
community to protect itself against such. We therefore,
advise every purchaser to reject all immature fruit. Buy
it at no price. Let no commission man oflfer it ; and those
avaricious sharks will soon find it unprofitable to ship

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104 PKACH CirLTURE.

immature fruit, and the market will not be burdened with
it. Indeed it seems a sin against nature to pull a peach
when only a little over half size, green, and bitter, when
by leaving it on the tree a few days longer, it would in-
crease in size, beauty, sweetness, and wholesomeness.

Ten days or two weeks before picking commences in
earnest, the planter looks up his pickers. Their number
will depend, of course, on the quantity of fruit ripening
daily. If he has ten thousand assorted trees, ripening over
the whole season, he will not need nearly so many as if he
has the same number of a few varieties, ripening together,
or nearly so. But suppose he has ten thousand trees.
If old trees they will average, with a full crop, about
three baskets to the tree ; an aggregate of thirty thousand
baskets. In a season of sixty days, this would give ^ye
hundred baskets a day. A hand is allowed to pick forty
baskets, which would require a force of twelve hands, con-
stantly employed in picking. If the fruit is of two or
three varieties only, it will ripen in twenty days, and the
force required will be thirty-six hands. If the trees are
young, one basket to the tree will be about the average ;
and less than one-third the force will be required, as it is
easier picking from young trees than old. From these
data, any one can estimate how many hands he will need.

Expert, skillful hands arc as valuable in this as in any
other work, but in the large peach growing districts it is
impossible to obtain them. When the planters are bless-
ed with a full crop, every available man, woman, and child
is in requisition ; and all they can do is to secure, as far
as may be, trusty leaders who will have an eye to the in-
experienced and careless. When engaged, they are to
hold themselves in readiness to come on the first call

The fruit must be mature, but not ripe, when picked.
If picked too soon, it will shrink by the time it gets to
market ; the color will not be good ; the flavor will be
worse ; and a poor price will be had. If picked too late,

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PICKING. 105

the fruit will bruise in cartage ; the bruises will blacken ;
some will rot, and the price will be no better than for the
former. The greatest care is, then, necessary in deciding
the exact time it should be picked. The expert will have
little difficulty, as a glance of the eye, in- most cases, will
enable him to tell ; but the novice will often be puzzled,
and will often make mistakes. Besides the size and color,
the best test of maturity is the fed of the peach. In
order to decide in a doubtful case, the picker should take
the peach between his thumb and first and second fingers,
and press it; if it yields to the pressure, it is mature and
may be picked. If it does not, it is yet too green ; while if
the peach is indented by the pressure it is already ripej
and cannot be safely shipped to a remote distance. This is
the simplest and most reliable test we know. Indeed we
regard it as infallible ; and fruit picked just when it be-
gins to yield to the pressure may be shipped five or six
hundred miles by express without danger. In most varie-
ties, we may add, there is a peculiar transparency of the
skin at maturity that enables the expert to say without
hesitation that the fruit should be picked and he will
very seldom need anything more to direct him.

On the morning that the picking commences, the hands
assemble at a designated place in the orchard ; and are form-
ed into gangs of five, ten, or more ; and have certain rows
allotted them. In forming gangs, care is taken that each
has its proper proportion of skill, experience, and strength ;
for it would be very injudicious to put all the good hands
in one, and all the poor ones in another. Each gang is
placed in charge of a leader, and each hand is furnished
with one basket or more, and the picking begins. The
light pickers mount the trees, the tall ones stand around the
tops of the bending limbs, while the ladders are used to
reach the fruit that cannot be gathered without them.
It is a busy time, and nimble fingers make many ups and
downs in securing the bright blushing fruit. Only such as
5*

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106 PEACH CULTURE.

is sound and mature is pulled, and all under size, defeo
tive, or spotted, is rejected. Hundreds of baskets, far
sweeter, more wholesome, and prettier than the prema-
htreSy are suffered to rot under the trees, or fed to the
hogs.

When the baskets are full, they are kept under the
trees, to be gathered up by men with wagons or carts.
Many planters send them immediately to the shipping
depot, to be put aboard the boat or car that is to carry
them to the market. But this is not the best way. A
better plan, -and the one adopted by experienced shippers,
is to have careful, skillful, and experienced men in suffici-
ent force to overhaul, and assort, and grade every basket.
Where this is done, the cullers are provided in the orchard
with stands made of loose boards laid across benches of
the proper height. To these stands the pickers bring
their baskets as soon as picked. The cullers examine
every peach. If it is large and without fault, it is placed
in one basket ; if sound and of medium size, in a second ;
if sound but small, in a third ; and if too ripe, spotted, or
otherwise defective, in a fourth. Others prefer doing
this at the shipping point. Three grades of marketable
fruit are thus prepared, and it is found by observa-
tion and experience that it sells for much more than the
same would do, if unassorted. Indeed, if two baskets of
mixed fruit were sent to market with two others of pre-
cisely similar quantity and quality, but well assorted, the
probability is that the prime basket of the latter class
would seU for as much money as both of the first. So
much has appearance to do with the price. In this place
we suggest and recommend to planters who expect to
ship peaches annually, to paint their baskets of three
different colors, to receive fruit of as many grades ; and
always to put the same grade in the same color. In this
way your consignees will be able to tell at a glance^ what

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PICKING. 107

quality of peaches you have^ But the same end may be
attamed by a proper discrimination in the manifest.

PACING.

Facing is an art. It consists in rounding up handsome-
ly the top of the basket. For this purpose, a few of the
largest, and highest colored peaches are laid aside in fill-
ing it, and carefully placed on the top, to give a fine ap-
pearance. It is the planter's art of displaying his goods.
It is sometimes abused by the knavish, who put very in-
ferior fruit in the bottom, and sometimes evenof pth^r
varieties, and then " top off" with the very finest, in oriier
to deceive the purchaser. But this is never done by the
honest planter, but usually by middle men, who engage
in shipping only for a season, and who have no sense of
right and wrong, and no character to lose. The former
simply does it to make a favorable impression, and al-
ways, tacitly at least, warrants his fruit to be substan-
tially the same throughout.

During the picking season, the trees, as a rule, shptild
be picked once a day at least; some planters pick their
orchards even twice a day, so rapidly does the fmit ma-
ture in favorable weather, and sometimes every otbet^ d^ay
may sufiUce.

WAGONa

The peach business has originated a Peach Wagon.
This is used by large growers, and especially where the
fruit has to be carried several miles to a shipping point.
The genuine, full-sized peach wagon, will carry one hun-
dred and fifty-six baskets, and is drawn by four draught
horses. It is in all respects a substantial carriage. The
wheels are heavy with a broad tread. The springs are
strong, but very elastic. It is provided with a strong,
light, flaring, frame bed, arranged with tiers of shelves or
racks for the baskets. Baskets should never be allowed

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108 PEACH CITLTURK.

to Stand on each other, as that would compress the fruit,
and injure its appearance at least, if not its quality. The
wagon is coupled long. The first tier will contain three vows
of twelve baskets each ; the second and third five rows each
of the same number ; in all one hundred and fifty-six. These
wagons jam the fruit very little, and as they carry such
enormous loads, are almost indispensable to large grow-
ers. They cannot be taken into orchards, except where
wide avenues have been purposely left for them. In other
cases, they are brought to the entrance, and filled from
Dearborns, as ships are at anchor from lighters from the
shore.

CHAPTER XXL

RETURNS.

To the planter, who cultivates for profit, the returns
are the most interesting part of the business. These are
accounts of sales rendered by the consignees, which
are either daily or weekly as may be agreed upon.
When the quantity daily shipped is large, the shipper
usually requires daily accounts of sales ; if small, weekly.
These show the number of baskets received and sold; if
graded, so many of each grade ; and the price received.
From these accounts, the shipper sees at a glance the con-
dition of his business, and, if not satisfactory, can take
steps to advance his interest, by shipping to another
market, to another consignee, and so on. He is also in-
formed by letter or telegram of the condition in which
his fruit arrived ; the precise time when it arrived ; and,
if either has been faulty, he is thus advised how to cor-
rect it. Letteris are the usual medium of communication
between shippers and consignees; but the telegraph is

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BETUBNS. 109

often brought into requisition, especially in the height of
the season.

Once a week, at least, the shipper receives an account of
the week's sales, and a check for the net proceeds. This
latter is more specifically a return^ although the word is
sometimes applied indiscriminately to reports and returns.
This account shows the daily receipts and sales for the
week ; the price obtained ; and the aggregate amount.

From it are deducted all charges, including freights.
The balance is struck, and the check corresponds with
this balance. Neglect to render these returns promptly
is very annoying to planters and shippers, and very in-
jurious to the interests of consignees, as it produces dis-
content^ destroys confidence^and ultimately ruins business.

** EMPTIES. "

" Empties " are the baskets and crates after the fruit is
sold. We might almost as weU restrict ourselves to baskets
alone, for in point of fact the crates never come back.
The return of " Empties " is a part of the business in
great and general confusion, and needs immediate and
radical reform. It is managed somewhat in this way :
When the fruit is sold to reshippers, as much of it is, they
furnish their own packages, into which it is placed from
the original baskets. These empty baskets are now
gathered up by the person charged with that special duty.
They are set one in another. If he is competent and faith-
ful, he will put every man's baskets in a separate bundle.
Each bundle will contain, as near as may be, twenty-five
baskets. These are tied tightly together by a strong
cord, passed from one end of the bundle to the other. A
card, with the owner's name and address, distinctly mark-
ed thereon, is then tied on the top basket ; but should
the card be omitted or torn off, the baskets ought to go

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no PEACH CULTURE.

safely, as each basket has either the shipper's name in full,
distinctly marked in large letters, or his initials, with his
address. When thus prepared, they are placed in the
cars which brought them, and returned free of charge to
the owner. Under the present system this is the way,
professedly, in which the business is managed ; but, the
actual management, in most cases, is much worse. If the
employe is careless, he mixes people's baskets, and the
man whose name is on the card gets all, or has to assort
them at the shipping point, and throw out what are not
his, and the others hardly ever all get safely home. Some-
time^i, they are so badly mixed that even baskets belong-
ing to shippers living at different parts are tied together,
and thrown out at the first station at which any one of
them resides. All this is attributablq to incompetency or
carelessness, and mostly the latter. But there are other
delinquencies more reprehensible stilL Where the con-
signee has a stand in market, much of the fVuit is taken
there to be sold to his customers at retail, and the prac-
tice prevails to lend the purchaser the basket to take
home his fruit. He often forgets or neglects to return it,
and the delay or loss falls on the shipper, when it should
fall on the consignee. Sometimes the consignee gets
paid, but the consignor seldom. Again, sometimes the
consignee sells the basket with the fruit, and pockets the
price, trusting to the well-known looseness with whipb
this part of the business is managed for exemption fix>m
all charges either pecuniary or moral

The subject, however, is one that has lately elicited
much interest and inquiry among growers, and these
abuses are likely soon to be reformed. Shippers now in-
sist that baskets shall be returned or piud for ; and con-
signees of reputation, and who expect to remain in the
business permanently, are acquiescing in the demand, and
contracting accordingly. Growers also insist onprompff-
t%tde in returning empties. Heretofore, it was thought that

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HABKETS. Ill

if they were returned any time daring the season, or er^i
after the season is over, it was sufficient. But this is no
longer satisfactory to planters, who very justly complain,
and say, that the use of the basket, of which this delay de-
prives them, is nearly as valuable as the basket itself; that
baskets coming home at the end of the crop are not worth '
half what they were at the beginning ; and, moreover,
are bleached and unattractive. If a basket sufficiently
strong to carry safely, and costing only a few cents,
could be raai.de so that it might go with the fruit, a want
would be supplied which has long been felt. In this
case the purchaser would always have something to put
his fruit m at a very small cost, which he would willingly
incur for the convenience ; while a fruitful cause of vexar
tion and loss to the planter would be removed.

CHAPTER XXn.

MARKETS.

Nbw York city is the peach emporium of the East,
and hither are sent four-fifths of the peaches raised on the
Delaware Peninsula, and perhaps nine-tenths of all raised
in New Jersey. A very large proportion of this is con-
sumed in the city. The remainder is reshipped to Boston,
Albany, Montreal, and other northern cities.

Next to New York, stands Philadelphia. Her market
is principally supplied from two sources. First, from
peach growers residing near who, from acquaintance and
force of habit, prefer to send their fruit there, rather than
to a more remote market. even if prices are higher. Sec-
ondly, from growers on the waters of the Chesapeake^
who can ship in boats to Philadelphia, but not so conven-

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112 PEACH CUKTUKK,

iently to New York. These could reship in cars, but it
would be attended with additional expense and delay,
which the higher price might not always justify.
The Philadelphia market is somewhat limited, and the
shipments made thither seldom give as satisfactory retomB
as those to New York.

Beyond these two cities very few peaches are shipped
from the great peach growing centers. But planters are en-
quiring whether they may not do better by seeking out
more remote markets, and shipping directly to them, in-
stead of allowing their fruits to fall into the hands of mid-
dle men in New York ; and already, in years when the
crop is very large, many are shipped to Boston and other
northern towns«

CHAPTER XXIIL

PROFIT.

The profit of peach culture, either comparatively or ab-
solutely, can only be approximated, and that in a general
way. When we see a man, engaged in any business, ac-
quiring more property, improving what he has, and sur-
rounding himself with the luxuries and elegancies of life,
' we certainly conclude that the business is profitable, and
that he understands how to manage it. When we see
another engaged in the same business working hard, going
in debt, selling, it may be, a portion of his patrimony to
relieve his present embarrassment, we conclude as certain-
ly that his business is unprofitable or he does not under-
stand it. So it is in peach culture. Whoever understands
it and attends to it well, does welL We know no excep-

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PROFIT. 113

tions. But whoever plants an orchard, and lets the cat-
tle destroy it, or the weeds overrun it, or the borer girdle
it, or the poverty of his land starve it, must not be
surprised if he fails to make a fortune. He must not ex-
pect miracles.

We have had some experience and more observation,
and we are decidedly of opinion that no field crop will
pay better than peaches ; but they will not pay as well as
gardening and trucking where there is a convenient
market.

Take, as an illustration, an orchard of ten acres, one
thousand trees, when the trees are four years old. The
first cost of the trees and planting we estimate, and it is
very nearly the truth, at - $150.00

Interest for four years - - 36.00

Total expense till it comes in - $186.00
The product of the soil in corn, potatoes, etc., will equal
the tillage of the trees, so that when they come in, the
orchard will be in debt - - - $186.00

We estimate the first crop of peaches at one thou-
sand baskets, more or less, which are worth to the
planter, on the tree, forty cents, - - $400.00

This pays the old debt and interest, and leaves $214.00
The second year there may be only two hun-
dred baskets; but owing to a scanty crop, the
price is doubled and the planter gets eighty cents
a basket on the trees, . - - $160.00

The third season, a full crop, three thousand
baskets, worth forty cents, - - - $1,200.00

The fourth year is a total failure - -

Four years then give a net income ^i $1,574.00

Which is equal to an annual rent of - $393.50

Or an annual rent per acre of - - $39.35

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114 PEACH CULTURE.

These estimates are made on the basis of good land and
good tillage. In the absence of either or both, the profits
will be much reduced ; while by extra culture, skill, and
care in gathering the fruit at the proper time, and send-
ing it to the best market, they may be increased, but in
the present state of cultivation and markets, they are
above the average.

Hence it follows, that land which will yield forty dol-
lars an acre,j9€r annum^ should not be planted in peaches.

CHAPTER XXIV.

CULTURE AFTER A CROP.

The cultnre after a crop should be prompt, careful and
generous. A first class orchard of a hundred acres may
have netted its owner ten tliousand dollars in a singlie sea-
son. But say it is only six thousand, or even five, and
he can still aflfbrd to return to the soil that has been so
productive a considerable portion of this, and have a
handsome sum left. The liberal and intelligent planter
will do so cheerfully, and thus not only improve greatly
the appearance of his trees, but also do much towards in-
suring a crop the next year ; while the niggardly and
short-sighted, will pocket all the present gains and leave
his trees to take care of themselves or starve. Good cul-
ture will pay as well with peaches as any thing else ; and
the old proverb : " Always taking out of the meal tub,
and never putting any thing in, you will soon come to the
bottom," is as applicable to them as to the family flour-
chest.

As soon as the last peach is gathered, the hogs should
be turned in to eat up the refuse. Two purposes will be

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CULTURE AFTEB A CROP. 115

effected by this. The hogs will fatten on the decayed and
imperfect fruit, and multitudes of embryo insects will be
destroyed. Besides they will root about the trees, and
do almost as much good as a plowing. If there are no
hogs at hand, the refuse should be gathered up and re-
moved ; but this is seldom done ; and the more common
way is to leave all on the ground, and run the risk.

The next thing is, to remove carefully all feeble, dead,
and broken limbs. This should quickly follow the peach
harvest. The feeble limbs are such as are near the ground,
on lower branches, and have been so far deprived of the
sap by the upper and more vigorous ones as to become
unfruitfuL They would soon die at any rate, and it is
better to remove them at once, and thus give more room,
as well as more sap to the thrifly and fruit-bearing ones.
After a bountiful crop, many broken limbs will be found ;
sometimes even the whole tree will be demolished, and
apparently ruined. By careful and judicious pruning,
however, much may be done to repair the injury and re-
store the tree to its former beauty and productiveness. In
a healthy tree, the vital forces of the rbots are in exact
proportion to the superficial drafts of the top. When the
top is partially removed, the demand on the root is just
so far diminished. There is then a superabundance of
vital power, continually seeking a channel in an effort to
restore the proper equilibrium. In consequence of this,
the remaining branches are stimulated to extraordinary
growth, and new buds shoot, and new branches are form-
ed. If the whole top has been removed, the disparity be-
tween the root and the stem is so great that the latter puts
out buds in all directions, and soon becomes one mass of
twigs and leaves. In this way shade trees are often trained,
their foliage thickened, and their appearance improved. By
attention to this principle in arboriculture, the injured fruit-
tree may soon be almost restored to its original beauty
and usefulness. We have seen this illustrated at least

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116 PEACH CULTURB.

twice in our own experience. The first case was that of
a beautiful young Bellflower apple tree, the one-half of
which broke down under an enormous load of fruit the
third year after coming in. It grew near a high board
fence, and so equally was it divided into two branches,
that had it not been for the fence, we believe both would
have parted, and fallen in opposite directions. As it
was, only one could fall, but in doing so, it split the stem
down to within less than two feet of the ground. So great
was the injury that we seriously thought of digging it up
altogether, and planting another in its stead ; but we did
not. Although broken down, it did not separate from
the main stem, and the fruit matured welL When it was
.gathered, we removed the fallen branch neatly ; cut away
a few of the lower limbs on the opposite side, shortened-in
a few others, and awaited the result. The next spring,
young branches began to shoot on the injured side ; they
grew very rapidly, filled up the vacancy, new wood cov-
ered the wound, so that at the end of two years, no one,
unaware of the accident, would have suspected that the
now beautiful tree had ever sustained injury.

The other, was that of some natural peach trees in full
bearing that we wished to transform into choice varieties
of budded fruit. For this purpose we cut off the entire
tops just above the spread, and budded on the young
wood the next fall. Two years after, the tops were as
large, and much handsomer than when removed.

The planter must not conclude that because his tree is
broken down it is, therefore, destroyed. By proper atten-
tion it may soon be restored ; and when we reflect that
two large crops scarcely ever follow each other in succes-
sion, we will see that the loss is really but trivial

As soon as the pruning is over, the trash is cleanly
gathered up and hauled away to some vacant spot to be
burned.

After this the root of every tree is carefully examined

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CULTUBE AFTEB A CBOP. 117

for the borers, and every one unrelentingly destroyed.
The ground is then nicely plowed, and cultivated down,
as heretofore described. This should all be done by the
first of October. But sometimes the ripening of late
jfruit retards the plowing. In such case, the pruning and
plowing, may properly be deferred; but the worming
never can. This must not be neglected if you value
fine trees, and wish to preserve them. In a well attended
orchard, the labor will be very light ; for, owing to the
vigilance of the planter, few worms will ever obtain a
lodgment in his trees. After the examination of each
tree, the soil is carefully replaced, so that the tender neck
of the stem is not exposed.

After the fall plowing, some planters give their peach
orchard a top-dressing of lime ; others, later in the season,
of barn-yard manure ; others, again, one of wood-ashes or
superphosphate about the roots. These are all excellent ;
and, where it can be done, should not be omitted. But
all are more or less expensive, and planters, for the most
part, rely on tillage alone, and some even stint that. We
believe that any orchard that is worth keeping at all is
worth good culture, and that it is true economy to apply
lime, phosphate, and manure to the extent of the reasona-
ble requirements of the orchard and the planter's ability.

Whatever dressing the orchard gets, it should be in the
fall. The reason of this is, that the fertilizers will dissolve,
soak in, and reach the roots dunng the winter, and in
time to stimulate and strengthen the next year's growth ;
and, if the other conditions be favorable, greatly tend to
the. production of a crop.

Later in the season, especially if the ground is weedy
or grassy, the orchard must be cultivated. In ordinary
cases, once will do, but sometimes it may require two
dressings. The weeds, or grass, must not be permitted
to grow, but the ground should be kept clear and smooth
as a floor. There is often a narrow strip, between the

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118 PEACH CULTURE.

trees in the same row, not caught by the plow ; this must
be leveled with the coltiyator or hoe.

We need scarcely say to the tasteful planter, that the
head rows and comers should be kept scrupulously clean.

The culture the next spring is as described for young
orchards.

CHAPTER XXV.

USES.

As a dessert the peach is a universal favorite, and in its
season has no rival. It is the Queen of Delicacies. It
ripens in perfection only in the glow of a midsummer's
sun ; and the hotter the weather, the more delicious are
its rich cooling juices. It is eminently suited to the
senson. When the weather is so hot that even eating is
a labor, the peach is acceptable, for it meUs in the mouth
without exertion. It is perfectly healthy, and even me-
dicinal. We have known it to effect a complete and al-
most immediate cure in dysentery and diarrhoea. .It maybe
eaten at meals, which is perhaps the best time, or between
meals ; raw or cooked ; in sauce or pies ; marmalade or pre-
serves ; with cream and sugar, or without — almost any way
— but never green or decayed. As it is most delicious and
healthy when ripe and sound, so it is most unpalatable
and pernicious when green or decayed.

Eating when ripe is the best, as well as the most agree*
able way of using peaches ; probably nine-tenths of all
raised are eaten in their ripe and uncooked states.

But vast quantities are also canned^ and numerous
establishments turn out, respectively, several hundred
thousand cans every season. These are shipped to all parts

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USES. 119

of the world; and many tastes are gratified with the
canned fruit that neyer knew, and neyer will know, the
delight of a ripe, uncooked peach.

Some are preserved for domestic use, and are consid-
ered amongst the very best of conserves.

Formerly small, inferior, and even half rotten peaches,
as well as the parings thrown out by the canners, were
distilled into peach brandy, and quite a quantity was used
up in this way; but since the discovery of the Alden
and other processes of evaporation, and the invention of
various evaporators, very little is used in this way ; and
that only of the very worst sort.

The evaporated fruit is found to be one of the best, if
not the very best, forms in which it can be preserved ; and
when there is a crop, tons of dried peaches are put up in
every neighborhood. Indeed, in localites, almost every
planter has an evaporator, and some of them several.
This is found to be of great advantage, and in many ways.
When the crop is very abundant, large quantities are
used in this way ; a glut in the market is prevented, and
better prices are obtained for what is sent. Then the fruit
preserved by this method will keep. It may be packed
away and shipped when there is leisure, or when good
prices can be obtained, while ripe peaches, in their natural
state, must be shipped and sold at once. Besides, evap-
orated peaches are a most delicious and wholesome lux-
ury, one that will surely make its own way after the
first introduction. Indeed, desiccated peaches are now
I so popular, that they are usually all engaged as soon
as dried, and often before. They always bring good
prices, and are growing in popularity every year. The
average price for evaporated peaches, of good quality, is
about thirty cents a pound. We now speak of peeled
ones, Unpeeled fruit does not bring half so much, and
should not, for only the very inferior is dried without
peeling. Desiccated peaches may be procured at almost

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120 PEACH CULTUBE.

any good family grocery store, done up in neat boxes.
The white colored are preferred ; bat this only shows the
ignorance of the purchasing public. The purest and best
are of a light amber color. This is the dhed peach in its
natural state. The white have been bleached by the use
of sulphur. This is done by evaporators in self-defence,
as the white fruit will always sell better^ and at a higher
price, than the amber. The difference is usually from
two to four cents a pound. It is contended that the
bleaching does no harm, and, therefore, is an innocent
concession to a popular prejudice. All the sulphur con-
tained in the fruit may not render it unhealthf ul, but, to
our taste, it does take away part of its delicate flavor, and
renders it less palatable ; and, for this reason, we never
use any bleached fruit.

We might occupy a long chapter in describing the
evaporators and the manner of using them ; but it would
not add to the practical advantage of this little treatise.
We will simply say that there are perhaps a dozen
patented ones, every one of which claims to possess some
special advantage, and nearly all of which are really good.
A planter, in making a selection, will be governed, in a
great measure, by his requiremants. If he has a great
many peaches, he will want a large one ; if only a few, a
small one. They range through a wide field, both in
capacity and cost. The smallest and cheapest may cost
twenty-five dollars ; the largest, perhaps, three thousand.
The first will require the attention of a single person ; the
latter of a hundred or more.

It is said by those who make a business of preserving
peaches in this way that, when peaches cost more than
forty cents a basket, they can not be desiccated at a
profit, but below this they may.

The leaves of the peach, bruised and distilled, yield a
liquor used for fiavoring cookery. When steeped in spirits
they impart that peculiar flavor, called noyau.

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USES. 121

y^ Four ponnds of peach blosfioms distilled in a water bath,

fit will yield twelve ounces of a whitish liquor, sweet to the

i^c taste, and agreeable to the smell, much resembling bruised

2: peach kernels. This liquor is a strong perfume, and a

15 few drops will very agreeably scent a large quantity of

::^ any other liquor or substance with which it commingles.

it The buds yield the same liquor, but not of so delicate a

I flavor.

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12?i PKACH CVLTUBE.

CHAPTER XXVL

INSECTS AND DISEASES.

But little is yet settled in regard to diseases of the
peach. Is it really subject to any inherent disease, or
are its maladies accidental ; that is, superinduced by ex-
traneous causes? We incline to the latter opinion.
Most of them we know are; and we are not certain
that any are not. The Yellows is the only known
one of which we doubt ; and about it very little is known
either as to origin or treatment. It is generally regarded
as incurable, and eradication is the only remedy recom-
mended. Cultiyators should observe closely, experiment
extensively, and report fully. In this way more reliable
data will be obtained, and, it is hoped, a remedy dis-
covered.

THE BORER

The 'Borer {^geria exitiosa)^ is the most common, as it
is the most troublesome enemy of the peach on the Peninsu-
la; and yet, if looked after in time, it is very easily subdued,
and need in no wise seriously interfere with cultivation.
But, if allowed to intrench itself in our orchards, it will
not only require time and labor to rout it, but even this
will only be effected by constant vigilance and with con-
siderable loss. Hence, the planter should never permit
it to obtain a footing in his young orchard, but upon
its first appearance destroy it utterly. To exclude
the borer, he has only to carefully examine his trees every
spring and fall, and wherever he finds one, destroy it. If
this rule is strictly followed, his labor will be very light,
and his trees will never be permanently injured. But if
he neglects this, as is so often the case, until the borer is

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INSBCTS AND DIBEASBS. 123

established in the tree, the labor of exterminatioD will not
only be increased ten-fold, but he will suffer the pain of
seeing some of his handsomest trees enfeebled; and, if the
most prompt and vigorous measures axe not adopted,
they will die.

The Borer is, when fully developed, a slender, dark-
blue, four- winged, wasp-shaped insect. Figure 17 gives the
male, and fig. 18 the female perfect in-
sect. It does not enter the tree in this
shape, but about the middle of June
commences to deposit its eggs on the
tender bark of the tree, at the surface of
the ground, and, occasionally, through- pig, 17.— bobbr.
out the summer, sometimes even as late malb.

as October. These eggs hatch, as the season advances,
into small white grubs or borers^ about one inch long
when fully grown, and an eighth
of an inch in diameter. These
penetrate the bark, and burrow in-
to the sap wood, where they re-
main all winter. In the spring, or
early summer, they emerge in theii*
Fig. 18.— BOBBB.— PEMALB. pcrfcct, wlugcd form, and soon
commence depositing eggs for another generation.

During their stay in the tree, they devour voraciously
the'bark and sap wood, and one or two are sufficient to
destroy a young tree in a single season, and four or five,
an old one. Their inroads are very insidious, and some-
times the first notice the planter has of their presence is
the blighting of his tree, which soon withers and dies.
The work being done in the dark, under the bark, and the
gum piled around the neck of the tree, the insect is com-
pletely concealed, and the injury unsuspected until, like
an exploded mine, the bleached and withered leaves give
unmistakable evidence of its fatal presence. But a little
experience will soon enable any one to detect the borer.

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124 PBAOH CULTUBE.

The most certain and obvious sign is the gam at the neck
of the tree. Whenever this appears, you may certainly
conclude the borer is entrenched. But sometimes very-
little gum, if any, indeed, may be there, and still this
treacherous enemy may be destroying the very vitals of
your beautiftd and productive tree. But, generally, there
will be a disturbed, raised, or loose appearance of the
ground immediately around the neck of the trea When
this is the case, inspect carefully. On the other hand, if
the surface of the ground is flat, close, compact and hard
at the neck, you may almost certainly conclude that no
borer is thera One accustomed to examine for, and de-
stroy these grubs, can tell at a glance whether or not the
borer is present. Several remedies have been prescribed
for the borer ; but the best yet discovered, where the insect
has penetrated to the wood, is

A Hoe, a Bill-hooked Knife, and a Punch.— The first
to scrape away the earth from the root ; the second to
cut away the gum and decayed bark and wood ; and the
last to kill the borer. The knife should be large, strong and
sharp. Either a pruning or butcher knife does very welL
The punch may be of hard, seasoned wood or heavy wire ;
but a whalebone one is the best, because it is pliable and
elastic, and may be thrust into a curving cavity, when a
straight one could not, and thus reach the borer without
cutting away the wood, ^ut the borer must be destroyed
at all events. There must be no truce, no mercy, if you
wish to save your tree. If you leave even one, it will
probably be the death of your tree, for it will eat, and
eat away, until it has destroyed it. The greatest care
should be taken to remove aM. Sometimes quite a num-
ber will be found in one tree. Five and six are not
at all unfrequent ; and even more will sometimes be
found. In removing the borer, the operator should be
careful not to bruise or cut away any of the sound bark
or wood, as it will all be little enough for the renovation

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INSECTS AND DISEASES. 125

of the tree ; but all the dead and diseased wood and bark
should be carefully removed, so that the new growth may
cover over the old wound as soon as possible. After the
operation, the soil should be drawn up to the neck of the
tree again, in order to prevent the sun and dry winds
from cracking the bark in the summer, or the severe frosts
from chilling it in the winter.

Boiling Water is recommended by some as a very
safe, simple and effectual remedy. We have never tried
it ourselves, and cannot speak from experience ; but we
have no doubt of its beneficial effects when judiciously
applied. But whether it is as good as the one we have
just described, and, if as good, as cheap, we do not know.
It is applied in various ways, the simplest of which is to
pour it all around the neck of the tree affected, so that it
may flow into, and fill up, every hole, thus destroying the
borer in its retreat. Our doubt of the complete success
of this method arises in the fear we have that the borer
will not be reached by the scalding flood, and, conse-
quently, often escape. It often, on entering a tree,
ascends^ and its course is shielded, as well as concealed,
by the bark. Now, how is the water to reach it here ?
Will it not be shed by this panoply, and the insect remain
secure in his double-walled fortress ? *

Another cultivator applies the water in this way:
" Take a piece of half-inch lead pipe, say three feet long ;
bend one end to nearly a right angle, and fit the same to
the borer's hole, the main length of the pipe standing
perpendicularly ; place a funnel in the top, and fill the
pipe with boiling water ; the borer will soon be dead,
while the tenderest tree will not be injured by the process."
This is a very complete, effectual, and highly artistic
method, but we fear the time consumed in fitting the pipe
to the hole, and the ftmnel to the pipe, with the trouble
of finding the hole, and waste of water, would be dis-

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126 P£AGH CULTUBS:.

coixragingly tedious to a planter who had ten thousand
trees to examine in a few days.

Waste Water prom Salt-works has also been men-
tioned with favor by some. We have never used it, or
seen it used, but we feel safe in recommending its trial
in moderation, when at hand ; care ought to be exercised
in its application, especially to young trees, as these acrid,
mineral liquids often prove injurious, and sometimes
fatal, to vegetable life. With this caution, let it be tried
whenever it will be economy to use it. The difficulty in
the application of all liquids is to reach the borer. It is
often so deeply burrowed in the wood of the tree as scarcely
to be found, even with knife and punch, and is perfectly
secure against water, except it be a deluge.

Oil, diffused in water, and applied with a syringe,
has been recommended as a protection against all noxious
insects, the borer among the rest. It Is affirmed that a
single drop of sweet oil, applied to the back of a wasp or
hornet, produces almost instant death ; and that a very
small quantity is sufficient, when diluted, to destroy myr-
iads of insects. It is said it closes up the breathing-pores,
and the insect dies for want of air. However destruc»
tive it may be to wasps and hornets, we can not, with-
out further trial, conclude that it will be equally so to
the borer, whose habits of life are so entirely different.
The one delights in sunshine, moves on wings, and lives-
in air, while the other burrows into the solid wood, where
light never penetrates, and seals himself up hermetically
with impervious gum. Still, the smell of the oil, espe-
cially of coal oil, may be useful in keeping off the fly or
moth, if applied at the season it deposits its eggs.

Sheathing the tree with paper, straw, or cloth,
anything that will prevent the embryo worm from ob-
taining a lodgment in the bark of the tree, has been tried
with success; and, if attended to in the proper time,

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INSBCrS AlO) DISEASES. 127

about the middle of June, and kept on until the danger is
past, about the middle of October, will prove a complete
preventive. But if the borer had already obtained a lodg-
ment, or the eggs had been deposited before the tree was
bandaged, or the bandage was not impervious, it will
prove no protection, or, an insufficient one.

If paper be used, it should be wrapped once and a half,
or twice, around the tree, so as to leave no place of in-
gress for the insect, and should extend two inches below,,
and six above the ground, and be securely tied to keep it
in its place. It may be secured at the lower end by sim-
ply scraping away the dirt the required depth, wrapping
the paper around, and then drawing the dirt back, and
pressing it down firmly. The method of applying straw,
cloth, or other material, is the same.

Akin to this remedy is that of scraping np piles of dirt
around the tree^ in early summer, and leaving them until
fall. This is on the same principle, and answers the same
end if well done, and constantly maintained ; but they
nmst not be permitted to wear away by summer showers.
Lime or wood-ashes are better than duii for this purpose,
as neither is so liable to abrasion, and both are excellent
fertilizers.

THE CURCULIO.

This most destructive and dreaded of all enemies of
fruit has never yet troubled our peaches on the Peninsula,
and consequently we have no practical experience or ob-
servation in regard to it. We are thankful for our ex-
emption; and ignorance, in this instance, at least, is
undoubtedly bliss. But in Ohio, and probably elsewhere
in the West, it has become very troublesome and injuri-
ous. The Curculio, Plum- Weevil {JRhynchaenus Nenu-
phar)^ is a small, dark-brown, winged beetle^ with white,
yellow and black spots. It is quite small, never exceed-

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138

PBACH CUIJTUBB.

ing a quarter of an inch in length, and often not so long.
It has two humps on its back, and is provided with a rela-
tively long throat and bill, which falls between its fore-
legs when in repose. In fig. 19 we give a much magnified
drawing of the curculio attacking a plum. When in a
tree, a sudden jar will cause it to fall down as if dead,
rolled up ball-like. Some suppose that it hardly ever
leaves the tree upon which it first finds itself; and
this opinion is, in part, sustained by the method of its

reproduction, the larv<B
being carried to, and
hatched in the ground
through the medium of
the spoiled fruit. Others,
on the contrary, contend
that it is migratory, and
travels over a large space
— an entire orchard, at
least, or even many or-
chards. This view is
strengthened by the fact
that it is furnished with
wings, which seem natu-
rally to indicate both
Fig. 19.— cuKcuLio UPON A PLUM. dispositiou aud ability to
fly. Its character and habits are not yet fully known.
Enough, however, has already been learned to make it
the bane and terror of all fruit growers. Closer observa-
tion and experience, it is hoped, may yet discover an
efficient protection against its ravages. None such has
yet been found.

As soon as the fruit begins to set, and for weeks after-
wards, this pestiferous beetle commences its work of ruin
by making a minute puncture in the young fruit. In
this the ^%% of the grub is deposited. It grows with the
fruit until it becomes so large as to destroy the vitality

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INSE0T6 AND DISBASiBS. 129

of the latter, which drops from the stem, and the larva
finds its way into the soil, undergoes another transforma-
tion, and reappears the next spring as the little winged
beetle above described. This is the usual process and re-
sult with the plum, its favoiite object of attack ; but with
the larger and hardier fruits, such as apples, pears, and
peaches, the effect is not so fatal. The nature and char-
acter of the attack is the same, but owing to the size and
vigor of the fruit, they are better able to resist and sur-
vive it. The consequence is that they are only spoiled,
or partially destroyed.

It was once supposed by some that as soon as the fruit
was well set> the danger from the curculio was over ; and
that if it could be protected for two or three weeks from
the time of the fall of the blossom, the fruit would be
safe. But a better acquaintance with its habits has shown
that it continues its ravages throughout the summer, and
nearly, if not quite, to the ripening of the fruit ; and
this is especially true with the tenderer sorts, so that
nothing short of destruction or banishment to the de-
stroyer will save the fruit.

The loss to horticulture from this enemy alone can
hardly be overestimated. It has almost banished plums
from our gardens, and changed hope and expectation into
fear and despair. When we think of the rich Golden
Drops, the delicious Gages, and the splendid Jeffersons,
which this inveterate and malignant foe has snatched al*
most from our lips, our disappointment and vexation
know no bounds. But should it, with like malignity, invade
our peach plantations, we should be driven to despair.

Formerly, it was supposed that the character of the^
soil determined, in a great measure, whether or not the
curculio would be troublesome ; and it was supposed that
stiff clay lands were a preventive, while light, sandy ones
were conducive, to its propagation and increase. Later
observations and experience, however, have demonstrated

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130 PBACH crxTirss.

that the character of the soil has very little, if any, infiu*
ence on it.

Many remedies have been tried and abandoned, and
many more are still recommended as worthy of yet far-
ther trial. We are sorry we have none that we can recom-
mend with confidence. Such as they are, we state them.
If not effectual, they may still prove useful, in a measure.
Let planters observe, note, and experiment. It is a bad
disease that has no cure. The end is so valuable and de-
sirable, we should never despair of attaining it.

1. Jar the tree, and kill the insect. — ^This is one
of the oldest and most effective of any proposed, but, at
the same time, tedious, expensive, and, on a large scale,
almost impracticable. The mode is to saw off one of
the lower branches, leaving a stump about half an inch
long; then spread sheets under the tree early every
morning, during the season the curculio is troublesome,
and, with a wooden mallet, give the stump two or three
sharp strokes. The tree is thus suddenly jarred, and the
insects, dislodged, fall upon the sheets, and are gathered
up and destroyed. Dr. Hall, of Illinois, has a contriv-
ance like a large umbrella opened and inserted upon a
wheelbarrow. The umbrella or expanded portion has an
opening in one side, to admit the trunk of the tree. The
barrow is propelled in such a manner as to strike against
the tree and jar it ; the expanded canvas portion being
then in a position to catch any insects or injured fniit that
inay fall. This may do for gardens, but what peach plant- 4
er, with his thousand or ten thousand trees, would think ' \^
of it.

2. Bandage the trees. — Some use these in the belief
that the curculios climb up the stem of the tree, and that
the bands arrest their progress, and detain them until
they can be caught and killed. The bands are made of
wool, cotton, or rope, dipped in coal or gas tar, and are

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INSBCTS AHO} DISBASBS. 131

tied arotind the main stem, jast below the. branches, and
sometimes also around the main branches themselves.
The smeU of the tar may be as effectual as the bands
themselves.

3. A Trap. — ^We have heard of a curculio 2Vapy made
in the shape of a bag, and hung in the tree ; but we have
neither seen nor heard it described, and are, consequently,
unable to speak of its merits.

4. Offensive Odors. — It has been discovered that
ihost insects that infest orchards are more or less affected
by disagreeable odors ; hence it is proposed to hang up
in the branches of trees, during the incursion of the cur-
culio, cobs or some other convenient thing, dipped in gas
or coal tar, and strung upon a wire, and thus drive them
away. This remedy is plausible, and may be very ser-
viceable in many instances of insect invasion ; but, so far,
there seems to be ^^ no enchantment '' against this most
pestilential of all the insect tribe. Besides, it is tedious
and inconvenieat when used on a large scale.

5. Destroy the Fallen Fruit. — As the injured fruit
falls to the ground with the grub in it, it is a very effectu-
al and convenient way to turn hogs into the orchard to
eat it up. This is a remedy without objection, and may
at all times be resorted to with safety and economy. If
it does not prove entirely successful, it will, doubtless,
greatly mitigate the evil. Xet no infected fruit remfiin
in your orchards,

6. Whitewash the grounp. — Governed by instinct, it
is said the curculio will never deposit its eggs where they
cannot be hatched — hence, not over water or paved yards^
nor whitewashed mTfaces. From this hint cultivators
have experimented, and it is now affirmed by many that
trees overhanging any of these are exempt. In view of
this, whitewashing the ground is proposed as an infallible
remedy. It is, no doubt^ excellent ; for even if it should

6*

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182 PBACH OULTUBB.

fail to drive away the curculio, it will prove an excellent
fertilizer for the trees. But if it can be applied without
too much expense, we think it may prove valuable as a
remedy. The ground should first be plowed, liarrowed
and rolled, so as to make the surface as smooth and fine
as practicable. The finely pulverized limo may then be
sown broadcast, just when the trees are shedding their
blossoms, or the surface may be whitewashed with it in a
liquid state. But we fear the trouble, expense, and lia-
bility to be absorbed will deter large planters from trying it.

7. Paving and planting over water. — ^These rest on
the same principle — ^that instinct teaches the insect that
its seed will be destroyed if deposited above them. From
whatever cause, it is claimed by some that trees hanging
over the edge of a lake, or with paved yards under them,
will not be visited by the curculio, but this is as emphati-
cally denied by others.

8. Limb and Sulphtjr. — ^This is a mixture of eighteen
double handfuls of sulphur to a barrel of ordinary white-
wash, made of unslaked lime. The mixture must be re-
duced by water to a consistency capable of being used
with a syringe. It should be applied three times a week,
for four weeks, commencing with the fall of the blossom.
As the sediment falls to the bottom, more water may be
poured in as the liquid part is used, until the whole be
consumed.

We have given these several remedies, and hope they
may be found useful, but with only limited confidence in
their efficiency or utility. A cheap, convenient, and certain
remedy for curculio is a desideratum most earnestly
wished for, but a blessing which has not yet been con-
ferred.

YELLOWS.

The Yellows is very little known on the Peninsula ;
80 little as to have given neither trouble nor uneasiDesB .

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INSB&rS AND DISiSASES. 133

SO far. What little we have seen of it, is supposed to
have been introduced from New Jersey, where it has
been very destructive. In consequence of this, few trees
are purchased in Jersey, but reared at home.

CAUSE.

This, as yet, is a subject of speculation. Various opinions
have been expressed, and various theories advanced. We
have no sufficient data to enable us to speak unhesitating-
ly, but we believe its primary cause is had cultivation.
fiy this we mean that in its cultivation the essential con-
ditions of a healthy tree and fine fruit have been overlook-
ed or disregarded. This has been through ignorance.
Cultivators neither observed nor read. At an early day
in this country the Yellows was unknown ; and in newly-
cleared districts, it is yet unknown, save only where
it has been introduced by diseased trees. It has never
prevailed or been troublesome, except in places where
the peach has been long and extensively cultivated
as in New Jersey, and, perhaps, a few other places. From
this we may reasonably conclude that the essential condi-
tions of a healthy tree and fine fruit are non-existent ; that
the supply of tree nourishment is deficient, and the tree be-
comes feeble and diseased, and, finally, dies of starvation.
It is a case of arbor-consumption. It is then constitutional
and chronic ; and not only so, but contagious, so far, that it
affects those in its immediate vicinity. It is a well-known
fact in agriculture, that by successive crops of one variety
of grain, the soil is exhausted of the essential elements for
the production of that variety, and that the crops must
be changed, or the yield will gradually dwindle down to
nothing, or the exhaustive process must be counteracted
by fresh supplies of the aliment consumed. Hence, arises
the practice of rotating crops, and also of using concen-
trated fertilizers. By the first, we use a different feeder

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134 PBACH CULTUBB.

to consame a different aliment ; by the latter, we use the
same feeder, bat introduce a new supply of the same ali-
ment. But, as all plants consume a portion of the same
aliment, the rotation practice can not be pursued indefinite-
ly without losing the highest benefit ; but the soil must
be enriched occasionally by fresh supplies of the ingre-
dients extracted. So it is in arboriculture ; for while it is
true that the leaves and rotten wood do much to supply
nourishment for the forest growth, yet it is equally true,
that they are not equivalent to the special aliment con-
sumed. If the whole forest were leveled at once, and
allowed to rot where it fell, it would, probably, be an
equivalent, and the soil would then be prepared to produce
and sustain another crop of the same variety. But not
so, if the forest has been cut down, and carried away.
Do this, in any instance, and see if the next growth will
be the same as that removed. Kot at all ; but a totally
different variety. If the first was pine, the next will
likely be oak, and vice versa.

We have seen beautiful illustrations of this in several
instances. We will mention one. Some twenty years
ago, a forest of white oak, of very heavy growth, was re-
moved for the timber. Very soon after, the whole
tract was covered with a thick growth of young white
pine, while not a single young tree of the former
growth could be seen ; and yet it was many miles from the
pine region proper, and only a few scattering trees were
in the neighborhood. This effort of J^Tature to restore the
equilibrium furnishes the key to the apparent difficulty.
The peach was a profitable crop, and planters were
yery loth to change it for anything else^ and too avari-
cious to return any portion of their profits to the soil that
had produced them. The consequence was their orchards
became diseased for the want of food, and literally died of
starvation. And it is no wonder, no remedy has been dis-
covered, because, the nature of the disease was oever

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INBBCTB AND DISEASES. 135

knowiL What medicine does a famishing man want, but
wholesome food ? But when a whole district is cultivated
in peaches mitil the soil is exhausted, the tree famine be-
comes general, and it also becomes almost impossible to
supply the necessary food for all ; then nothing better
can be done thaa to cease planting, and let the old and
diseased die. It is only adding to, and perpetuating the
calamit^f to bud from the diseased trees.

The remedy is to plant no more trees than you can
properly till. Do with them as with com, and for the
same reason, and you need not fear the Yellows. If you
have good land, and the means of keeping it good, you
can plant to the extent of such means. But stop at the
limit of your means of fertilization. No good farmer will
plant fifty acres of com, when he has only the hands to
till, or the means to fertilize, twenty-five ; no more will
the orchardist, peaches. The secret of success is to do
no more of anything than you can do well

Planters, who have orchards already afflicted, we coun-
sel to eradicate the trees at once, and plant no more near
them. If a new orchard is to be planted, get healthy trees,
and plant them on the other side of the farm — ^by no
means near the old orchard.

8YMPTOM9.

• The symptoms of the YeUotes are principally two :

1. Pbematubb Ripening is first in order of time. On
their first appearance, a few peaches, and, it may be, very
few, will ripen a few days before the proper time. Gen-
erally, their color will be bright, and their appearance
beautiful, without any symptom of disease that would
strike the uninitiated ; but the experienced planter is not
deceived. He notes the fatal sign as quickly as: the skil-
ful physician does the hectic blush on the pale cheek
of the fair consumptive, and as soon divines its cause.

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186 PBACH CUtTURK.

The more violent the attack, the more early and numer-
ous will be the prematures. If it is slight, only a few
will be affected, and they will ripen but a few days
before the proper time; but if the disease is violent,
the whole crop may be injured, and the ripening take
place weeks in advance of the season. In the former
case, the tree may survive several years, sinking into
a gradual decay, the fruit growing smaller, and ripen-
ing earlier every successive season ; while in the latter,
the decline will be rapid, ending in death the first or
second crop after the attack.

2. Abkobkal Shoots. — ^The second and infallible symp-
tom of Yellows is the striking out of unnatural shoots
from the main branches, and sometimes from the stem of
the tree. They are very slender, and often quite long.
Usually, they issue from the upper side of the branch,
and are often quite numerous. They have a sickly look,
yet they are tough and elastic. The leaves are very
small, slender, and pale. Premature ripening may be
"caused by accidental injury, or the borer; but these long,
slender, sickly looking twigs are infallible symptoms of
Yellows, and, from the moment of their appearance, the
fate of the tree is sealed.

REMEDIES.

1. Plant no diseased seed or trees. — ^We have al-
ready cautioned planters against planting seed that is not
perfectly healthy. This advice cannot be too emphati-
cally expressed. Neither should they plant trees unless
they know that they have been propagated from good
seed ; and also that the buds have been taken from thrifty,
healthy trees. This \a preverUive^ and is better than cure.

2. Do not plant in foul ground. — We do not mean
by this, rough ground. Peaches may, and will do well in
any soil, no matter how rough it may be^ provided it con*

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INSBCTS ANI> DISBASBS. 137

tiuns the essential elements of tree food. But ground is
foul — ^in the sense in which we use the term — when it is
poisoned by unhealthy matter, such as injurious or de-
structive mineral or vegetable substances, or undue pro-
portions of ingredients, innocent enough when properly
combined. Hence, exhausted lands should not be planted
until they have been restored by proper tillage or fertiliza-
tion. And especially should not old peach orchards be
replanted until they have been cultivated for a period of
years in other crops. Clover and lime are excellent re-
storatives.

Under the head of foid land may be included wet,
springy, or miry land, which is altogether unsuited to the
peach, but very conducive to disease.

3. Pull up thb disbasbd tbbbs. — When the Yellows
has once been allowed to make much headway, the best
remedy yet discovered is to pull up the trees by the roots,
and haul them out of the orchard. And this should be
done before flowering, as it is supposed by some the disease
is spread by the carrying of the pollen from one tree to
another while in blossom.

4. Limb and Mantjbb. — ^If the symptoms are mild in
character, and limited in extent, and the planter cannot
consent to lose his trees entirely, let him lime and manure
them vigorously. Stir the ground thoroughly around the
trees, and plow the entire orchard, and keep it in a mellow
state. Then, if the trees are full grown, apply from half
a bushel to a bushel of lime to a tree. This should be
sown uniformly over the surface as far as the roots extend,
and not piled around the neck of the tree. If the land
has already been well limed, enrich it with muck, manure
or ground bones, always striving to add some nevo ingre-
dient to the soiL The ground should be rich and mellow.
Additional vigor may also be given the tree by scraping
the stem and lower branches with a blunt-edged instru^.

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188 PBAOH CULTUB&

ment, like a ourrying-knife, used hj tanners in dressing
their leather. This will remove all old, rough bark, and
tend to loosen the principal coat, which is often of great
advantage. A still further benefit will accrue by washing
the stem and main branches with a strong solution of
whale-oil soap, or soap-suds, which are not only good fei^
tilizers, but cleanse the tree, and drive away insects. An
ordinary whitewash will also be beneficial. Follow this
up with a little judicious pruning, and you have done all
that seems at present practicable towards preserving, if "
not curing, your affected trees. In pruning, all weak and
unhealthy, as well as all dead limbs, should be removed.
Those left may also be shortened in the operation if you
are not quite sure the supply of nourishment from the
roots will be quite abundant to vigorously sustain the top.
The object of all this treatment is to obtain and maintain a
constant and healthy circulation of sap throughout the tree,
and thus give such strength and tone to its vital powers
as shall be able to resist and repel disease.

CHAPTER XXVn.
BPBCIAL CULTURE.

ESPALIEB.

In the peach growing districts proper, nothing but field
or garden culture is thought of, and no further directions
are necessary ; but for those who are not so highly favored,
some specific instructions in sheltered or in-^loor cultivation
may be useful And we may remark here that several
methods have been tried, and have found more or less
favor with gardeners. Most of the experiments in in-door

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SPECIAL CULTUBB. 189

culture have been made in England, where, as we hare
before remarked, the peach is cultivated as an exotic. But
in regard to all in-door or protected cultivation, it is well
to remember, that skill is necessary in order to render it
satisfactory or successful ; and, while we would not dis-
courage amateurs, or say that an intelligent man may not
learn the art from, books, some practical knowledge, ob-
tained by observation or expeiience, will be found highly
beneficial. With this caution, we will proceed to give
such plain directions as we hope will prove useful

We will Suppose that the tree is to be trained on a
trellis, near a wall Then obtain at the nursery a thrifty,
vigorous tree, of one year's growth from the bud. Cut
away, close and smooth, all the limbs one foot upwards
from the root ; leave two full, healthy buds, or eyes, on
each side, and as nearly opposite each other
as practicable ; disbud those shooting at right
angles with these, and then cut off the top of
the stem about one inch above the uppermost
buds. You now have the stock for the com-
ing tree, which is to be trained according to *^*
the fan-shaped^ or Aorizon^a^, method, as the convenience,
taste, or fancy of the proprietor may dictate, and it will
present the appearance of figure 20.

This stock is now planted in the border, at the proper
distance from the wall. If it is to be in the open air, on
the south side of a wall, this will be about fifteen or
eighteen inches ; if under glass, about a foot inside the
south side of the peach house. The ground should be
well pulverized, and moderately rich. Plant at the same
depth as the stock grew in the nursery. Incline the stock
veiy slightly towards the wall, whether in or out doors.
The two pair of buds will soon send » out shoots, strong
and vigorous, as the nourishment from the roots will be
abundant, or rather superabundant, for the preponderance
of the stock is now greatly in the roots, and nature wiU

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140 PEACH OULTUSB.

be constantly striving to restore the equilibrium so re*
cently destroyed by cutting off the top. On the preserva-
tion of these shoots from injury, and their proper training,
much depends the beauty and fruitfulness of the future
tree. As soon as they become a foot long, they should be
inclined towards the trellis, and it may be proper to tie
them to small stakes set for that purpose. When they
reach eighteen inches or two feet, they may be tied to the
trellis ; and care must be taken, subsequently, to tie them
up as their length increases, to prevent their being broken
off, or taking a crooked shape. These shoots, 6t branches,
must not be allowed to grow either horizontally or verti-
cally, but at a proper angle between the two. If drawn
out horizontally, they will continually send out lateral
shoots from the upper side, in a vertical direction, which
will have to be rubbed off, or defeat the end entirely. If
rubbed off, new ones will be continually taking their
places, and the cultivator will find himself engaged in a
constant warfare against nature. K not rubbed off, they
will soon cover the entire surface, and as effectually frus-
trate his design. The first aim is to form a handsome
tree, capable of producing the largest practicable amount
of good fruit on a given surface. In direct furtherance
of this, these four piimary branches are to be trained.
And the second aim is to so direct, balance, and train
them, that each shall contribute its full share towards
forming the complete tree. This should never be lost
sight of. The natural direction of the main stem is verti-
cal, and the natural flow of the sap upward. Hence it is
that top buds are best supplied with sap, and uppermost
branches draw most strength from the roots. But in this
artificial training, this natural tendency must be checked
and controlled ; and the first care of the skillful gardener
is to so dispose these branches that uniformity of size and
strength may be attained. In order to do so, it is plain
the lower branches ought to have a more vertical indina*

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SPECIAL CULTURE.

141

Fig. 21.— GROWTH DURING
SUMMER.

tion than the upper ones ; for if each have the same in-
clination, the flow of the sap to the upper ones will be
much greater than to the lower ones, hence they will grow
rapidly, but at the expense of the others. Now, by bend-
ing the upper ones down to an angle of about thirty or
thirty-five degrees, while we allow the lower ones to stand

at forty-five or fifty, the de-
sired result is attained. The
training of the branches
should commence as soon as
they are eighteen or twenty
inches long. A young tree,
properly started, will present
the form given in fig. 21, about
the first of July after planting. The upper and lower
branches cross each other, and this is likely to be the case
while training, but it is not to be the permanent position.
When the tree becomes complete, and has acquired a fixed
habit, the branches will resume their natural and relative
position, as in figure 22.

And if, while in training, difference in growth should
require it, the inclination will
have to be changed by rais-
ing or lowering the branches,
so as to maintain an equal
flow of sap to each, and a con-
sequent uniformity of size.
All buds showing themselves
on the main stem are to be
rubbed off as soon as they ap-
pear ; and should any of the
shoots become forked or deformed, they should be imme-
diately pruned so as to correct the fault. In case of a
fork, this may be done by cutting off the less of the two
prongs ; in case of a crook, bruise, or knot, the best way
is to cut off the faulty part just above a thrifty twig, or

Fig. 22. — END OF FIRST YEA.R.

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142 PBACH CULTUBKk

bud, and train the latter for the main shoot. In the latter
case, care must be taken to pinch in the twigs below, and
on the opposite side, in order to throw more strength in
to the leader.

At the end of the season, if all things have been con-
ducive, the shoots will have made a uniform growth of
well matured wood, of from four to six feet respectively.
The next spring this should be cut in about one-half, as
shown by the cross-lines in figure 22. It may be done in
the fall, and often is, but we do not advise it.

The next spring, the second season's training begins by
leaving one only of the numerous buds which shoot out
near the top of the main stem, and rubbing off all the
others. This bud will grow rapidly, and soon develop a
stout, thrifty shoot This is to be trained vertically. If
its growth be very rapid, it may be checked, as occasion
requires, by inclining it towards the horizon ; or it may .
be shortened-in by pinching off the leading bud. In the
former case, care must be taken that it does not acquire
too much rigidity in its temporary position, as it is ulti-
mately designed for the main stem, and should be both
healthy and handsome ; and in the latter, that the pinch-
ing in should not be too frequent or severe, lest the latent
buds of the next year be forced into premature develop-
ment. In the meantime, the branches already formed
must not be neglected. They will send forth numerous
lateral, as well as point, buds. Many of the former
should be rubbed off, in order that the strength of the
sap may be led into those that are needed, and all but one
of the latter. This one is to be preserved and trained for.
an extension of the lateral branches of last year, respect-
ively, and is to be managed precisely as the vertical one,
above described, is for the extension of the main stem.
And all the gardener has to do during the second season
is to watch the development of these branches, and ter-
minal buds, gradually advancing into shoots, and preserve,

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SPECIAL CITLTimB. 143

as before, the proper equilibrimii of sap flow, aad uni-
formity of size, by pinching in the buds, or raising or
lowering the branches, as occasion may require. At the
end of the second year, the tree will present the appear-
ance of figure 23.

I The stem will be quite stout, and the wood of the
branches will be solid and mature ; and some, perhaps
many, fruit-buds will show themselves. These should be
rubbed off, except a few on the thriftiest twigs, which
may be left to fruit. But as the tree is now entering upon
a new stage of existence, care must be exercised that it
does not overbear; for if it
does, it will probably be
greatly stunted in its growth,
and its capacity to produce
regular crops of fine, rich
fruit, greatly impaired, if not
wholly destroyed. The quan-
tity a tree, three years old,
may safely bear, will, in some

J J .. Fig. 23.— END OF SECOND TEAR.

manner, depend upon its

size and vigor. A very strong, healthy tree, of large
growth, may bear, perhaps, fifty peaches, without injury,
while a dozen would be quite enough on one of a small
size, or more delicate variety. In any case, the thinning
out should be done in the hud^ as the development of
blossoms and growth of fruit are very exhaustive.

With the first flow of sap, the third spring, the tree is
to be again pruned ; and this is done by cutting down
the last season's growth of the main stem to two buds on
each side, as at the first ; and the last year's growth of
the lateral branches is to be cut in one-half, as indicated
in the cross-lines in figure 23.

The tree has now had three years' growth, and still an-
other is necessary to complete it ; but the process is sim-
ply a repetition of that already described — ^a continuation

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144

PEACH CULTURE.

and extension of what has already been done. It is proper
to add that the lateral branches must be gradually in-
clined downward until they reach the position they are
intended to occupy, which may be fan-shaped or horv-
zontal^ — at the option of the proprietor. For ourselves,
we prefer the fan-shaped, as being nearer the natural posi-
tion, and, therefore, hest, (fig. 24).

In this elaborate culture, it will be observed that the
extension of the main stem, as well as the branches, is by

Fig. 24. — TRAINING COMPLBTB.

regular annual stages. It is tedious, and somewhat la-
borious, and the inexperienced may ask — ^Why not let the
tree take its natural course, and attain its size as soon as
may be ? The reason has been already intimated. It is,
that the flow of sap, being constantly upward, would give
a preponderating size, strength and fruitfulness to a few
main branches, while all the others would be correspond-
ingly reduced, weakened and sterilized ; while the object
of the training is to make every part fruitful. And these
stages in the growth greatly tend to this, as a moment's

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SPECIAL CULTUBB. 145

consideration will show ; for it will be observed that the
first year's growth, both of main stem and branches, is
larger than the second, the second than the third, and the
third tban the fourth. In this way, the parts of the tree
which naturally retain less sap are enabled to retain an
equal, or nearly equal, quantity, and are thus provided
with the vital force necessary to produce a corresponding
crop of fruit.

In our directions, so far, we have said little or nothing
of the twigs, or laterals, on the main branches ; but near-
ly as much will depend on the treatment of these as of
the stem and principal branches themselves. But, when
understood, the labor is easy and light. All superfluous
buds must be rubbed off as they appear, and the strength
be preserved for the fruit-bearing wood. The main stem,
particularly, must not be allowed to nourish even a single
sucker, the branches only enough twigs to bear a full
crop. All others must be rubbed off or cut in. In prun-
ing these twigs in the summer^ and especially when the
season is somewhat advanced, care must be taken to leave
enough wood and leaves to use the sap, and prevent its
starting the fruit-bnds of the next season, whereby the
crop would be greatly injured or totally destroyed. And
here, again, the operator will need to be wary as well as
diligent.

The praning of the twigs, which are the fruit-bearing
Wood, is almost identical with that of the vine when
trained on the sjpur system. They are first thinned to the
requisite number, the most healthy and vigorous ones be-
ing left ; they are then shortened-in to a proper length ;
and this will depend much upon the distance between the
main branches themselves. The twigs of proximate
branches may touch each other, but must not overlap. A
foil grown tree, properly pruned, will present early in the
spring, just before the buds shoot, an appearance acme-
what like that seen in fig. 24.

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146 PEACH CULTUBK.

From this figure it is readily seen that all the space is
covered with bearing wood, and is renewed from year to
year by cutting out old twigs, and supplying their places
with new ones. To the inexperienced and timid, this is
quite a task, but a little practice will soon make it an in-
teresting and agreeable labor.

The method we have just described is equally well suit-
ed to trellis, wall or peach-house culture. In the last case,
the branches are fastened to the rafters of the glass roof,
or an ins^ide trellis-work attached to them, and should be
from eight inches to a foot below the glass.

CHAPTER XXVm.

THE PEACH-HOUSE.

The peach-house is to the peach what the grapery is to
the vine. The object is to protect the tree from external
cold, or stimulate it by artificial heat, or both. The style
of the building varies according to the taste of the pro-
prietor* The simplest are generally the best. For persons
who are familiar with graperies and green-houses, no de-
scription or instruction will be necessary ; but for those
who have no knowledge of the matter, the following
hints may be useful.

If it be intended to use artificial heat, in order not only
to protect the fruit from killing frosts, but also to stimu-
late the trees, and accelerate early ripening, the builder
must determine on a plan for the whole, and which must
harmonize throughout. He will first consider how many
trees for which he has to provide space, then, whether or
not that space can be properly heated with one ftimace;

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THB PSA€B<IiOUSE.

147

if not, whether he will incur the expense of . two ; and
again, whether he will have t-^o rows or one in his peach-
house. An ordinary furnace will, with ordinary care, suf-
ficiently heat five tliousand five hundred cubic feet of
air. Now, if a single furnace is to command the entire
peach-house, it must not include more than that space.
This may take any convenient form. The most common
is a longitudinal ona A very convenient peach-house will

Fig. 25.— PEACH-HOUSE.

be 50 feet long, 12 feet wide, and 4 feet high on the south
side, and 14 on the north, as in fig. 25.

The north wall may be of almost any material — ^brick,
stone, or wood. The south side of a stable, bam, or
warehouse, may sometimes be appropriated for the back
of the peach-house. The south wall is also solid, and may
be made of any material suitable for any other kind of
building. The ends are usually solid also, but not neces-
sarily so ; and in shady places, it is advisable that the
west end be of glass, like the roof. Remember the di-
mensions : North wall, 14 feet high, and 50 feet long ;
south wall, 4 feet high, and 50 feet long ; each end 12
feet long, 4 feet high at south end, sloping upwards and
7

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148 PEACH OTILTURB.

backwards until it reaches a height of 14 feet. The roof
is supported by rafters running firom the low wall on the
south to the high one on the noith ; and these rafters
should be spaced to correspond with the width of the
glass used in constructing the roof. A foot or fifteen
inches apart will do very weU. These rafters are grooved
on the upper side, to admit the glass in the same manner
as the frames for covering approved hot-beds. The glass
reaches from one rafter to another, lies in these grooves,
and is secured by putty in the usual manner. In putting
in the glass, the glazier, commencing at the bottom, or
low wall, lays one pane, and then another, allowing the
lower edge of the second one to overlap the upper edge
of the first about half an inch, and so throughout, so as
to make a perfect water shed.

When cold air is to be introduced from the floor or
ends, the roof may be of one entire piece ; but if from
the roof, this is provided for in its construction ; and the
best and most convenient method is to have the rafters
mortised into a beam, at a suitable distance from the
south wall — say four feet — and glaze in the manner de-
scribed above, upward from this. The lower section will
consist of squares, fastened with hinges in their upper
edges on the beam, and lying flat on the south wall.
These can be raised or closed, as occasion may require.

If the house is to be ventilated at the ends, it can be
done by either wooden or glass doors ; but, in any case,
care must be taken that they close tight, as otherwise a
sudden severe frost may surprise the gardener, and greatly
disappoint and mortify the owner.

The furnace is properly placed, just outside the end
wall, and it is not material which walL Convenience will
usually decide this. The flue may be either close to the
north wall, or six feet south of it, as one or two rows of
trees are to be planted. It may be under the surface or
above it — ^an arched trench, or stove-pipe, or a combina-

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THK PEACH-HOUSE. 149

tion of both, and the last is best ; becanse, if an arched
trench is used without the pipe, there is danger t^at cracks
may occur, and thus let in a stream of smoke and heat
upon the trees or fruit ; while, if the pipe only is em-
ployed, there is danger of overheating. A pipe, enclosed
in a trench, provides against both dangers. The trench
and pipe should extend the entire length of the building,
and a vertical flue, or chimney, should occupy precisely
the same relative position on the outside of the second
wally that the furnace does on the first.

There is, as a rule, very little inconvenience felt from
the difference in the heat at the extreme ends of the flue ;
but should it be necessary, it can be equalized, in a great
measure, in one or other of the two following simple
ways : make the casing of the pipe thinner as it recedes
from the furnace, or increase the volume of the pipe. By
the former method, the heat will be sooner radiated, and
by the latter, more radiating surface will be provided, as
the distance from the furnace increases. The heat thrown
out can also be modified by the depth of the trench as
well as the thickness of the casing. A mild, uniform heat
should be aimed at.

When only one row of trees is to be planted, the flue
should pass about one foot inside the north wall, the aim
being to have it as far removed from the trees and fruit
as practicable. But if two rows, then six feet from the
north wall will be as nearly the proper place as may be,
the hight of the roof at the north, equalizing the greater
horizontal distance from the south. Sometimes the flue
is in the center of the house, but the objection to this is
that the temperature is never equable. A less serious one
is that it obstructs the light.

The whole floor of the peach-house, but especially the
borders, in which the trees are to be planted, should be
of good, friable, productive soil. Not only so, but also
the soil outside both the north and south walls, where

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150 PBACH CULTURE.

two rows are planted, for a distance of six feet, at least ;
for, although the trees are planted inside the walls, they
are to draw much of their aliment from the outside. The
number of trees in a house, such as we have described,
with double rows, will be either twelve or sixteen — six or
eight to a row. The lateral branches of a good, thrifty
tree may extend four feet on either side ; and if so, there
will be space for only six trees to the row. But some
gardeners will prefer that the arms be only three feet long.
In the latter case, there will be eight trees. It matters
very little which number he adopted. Either will do very
well, and, by proper training, about the same quantity
and quality of fruit may be produced.

The trees on the south, or low wall, are trained under
the glass roof, at a distance of eight or ten inches from it,
and are fastened to the rafters by small wires, or to an
inside trellis fastened to the rafters. The branches, as
well as the main stem, may be carried to the middle of
the roof, but not beyond it, as the light above that will
be wanted for the other row.

The north, or rear row, is trained against the rear wall,
which should always be plastered or whitewashed, and
may be carried to its entire height — ^fourteen feet. In
both cases the training and culture are the same, except
that in the south row, the sloping roof compels the trees
to incline towards the north, while the trees in the north
row take the erect position. It will be readily seen that
the peach-house admits both the fan-shaped and horizontal
system of training.

We have already given what we regard as the proper
size for a peach-house, but it may be of almost any shape
or size ; still, it will be well to remember, that small ones
are better forcers, and, if early maturity be an object, are
to be preferred — while large ones give more space, and
larger crops. If only one row of trees is to be planted,
they need not be more than ten or twelve feet wide.

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THE PEACH-HOUSE. 161

They may be very plain or very ornate, as the taste
and means of the proprietor will allow. As they are es-
sentially a luxury, good taste will dictate that they be at
least neat and pleasant to the eye. When means are at
command, they may be made very ornamental and at-
tractive.

The management of a peach-house, or vinery, is one of
the most delicate and important branches of horticulture,
and requires constant attention and care. The three es-
sentials are — pure air, proper temperature, and cleanliness.
These are about as necessary to the life of a tree as to
that of a man. The first is at hand in inexhaustible
quantity, and all the gardener has to do is to open the
windows and let it in. But he must take care when he
does it, and how he does it, for his charge is almost as
tender as the little ones of the nursery, and almost as
easily injured by ignorance or carelessness.

When the forcing commences, and it may conmience as
early as January, the temperature may range from fifty
to fifty-five degrees, Fahrenheit, in the evenings and
mornings. At night it may fall a little below even fifty
without detriment. As soon as the buds have burst it
may be raised to seventy, and when the flowers appear,
four or five degrees higher. From the time the flowers
appear until the fruit is set, the air must be kept mildly
moist, and this can be done by frequent sprinklings with
a syringe, which may also serve to cleanse the leaves and
branches. Even after the fruit is set, and somewhat
advanced in growth, these sprinklings will be necessary.
When the season advances, and the heat reaches seventy-
five degrees outside, no artificial heat will be needed, ex-
cept in cold evenings, when a little must be introduced to
prevent chilling, or in murky weather, to drive away the
unhealthy humid atmosphere.

Frequent washings with a garden syringe will do much
to preserve the freshness and health of the trees, as well

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153

FBACH CULTUBE.

as to promote and accelerate the ripening of the frnit.
Soap-suds are excellent for this, as they not only keep
the trees clean, bat afford a safe and very appropriate
nourishment.

CULTIVATION IN POTa

The peach, like almost every other fruit tree» can 1>e
succesirfully grown in pots or vases. When this is desir-
ed, procure a pot about two feet deep, and
fifteen inches wide at the greatest diameter,
and of the usual shape. It may be larger or
smaller as the taste of the amateur inclines
him. Fill this with a rich mould, mixed freely
with ashes or bone-dust In this, plant a
thrifty young tree from the nursery, which
^' you will cut down to one foot, and the lower

branches to the height of six inches, cut off close to the
stem, and the remaining buds shortened-in to two buds
each, as in fig. 26. This should be done in autumn, and the
pot kept in the cellar during winter.
The next spring it should be set out
early. It will grow very fast and
vigorously, and become quite stout
and stocky. In the fall, say about
the first of September, north of the
foi-tieth parallel, and south of that,
the first of October, the season's
growth should again be shortened-
in to three buds, as shown by the
cross-lines in figure 27, and thus ^^' 27.-pot cultubb.
prepared for a crop the next year. If the tree has been
well attended, and met with nothing to injure or retard
it, well developed fruit-buds will be formed, and the next
season you will have a crop of beautiful fruit And if you
put it in a conservatory, or cold grapery, you can have

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VABIBTIBS. 153

ripe fruit by the middle of June, or even earlier. The
ripening of the fruit may also be hastened by simply
exposing your tree in some warm position early in the
springy carefully remoying it to a shelter from cold and
frosts at night and on cold days, or, which is still better
in an ordinary garden hot-bed.

In pots, is the appropriate method of cultiyating Van
Buren's Golden Dwarf; but as it is a dwarf natwraUy^
cutting-in will seldom be necessary.

CHAPTER XXIX.

VAREBTIEa

The varieties of the Peach, as of many other fruits, are
very numerous, and may be almost indefinitely increased
by propagation. More tiban a hundred and fifty have been
already catalogued, and this does not include the naturals^
which are as numerous and various as the budded ones.
But, of all these, only a few, comparatively, are valuable,
and worthy of cultivation. Were five-sixths of the whole
condemned and rejected, it would be as greatly to private
profit as to public advantage. But this desirable result,
at present, seems unattainable. The obstacles are two.
Young and inexperienced planters generally desire a large
variety. They want some of almost every kind, not re-
flecting that it costs just as much to rear a poor tree as a
good one, while the latter will often pay them two or
three times as much as the former. But they have to
learn wisdom by experience, and are somewhat excusable.
As they grow older, they grow wiser.

The other obstacle is in the nurserymen, and the one
contributes to the other. The nurserymen know well the

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164 PBACH CULTOBK.

desire there is among novices to multiply varieties, and it
is their interest to gratify, if not to stimulate and culti-
vate it ; hence they make it a point to keep all the varie-
ties they think will be called for ; as well to supply every
demand, as to be reckoned growers of large and varied
stock. Owing to these two causes, reciprocally actiug on
and aiding each other, myriads of worthless trees are
planted every year.

There is an auxiliary cause, tending incidentally to the
same result, which ought not to be removed, but only re-
stricted to proper limits. This is the discovery or origi-
nating of new varieties. A nurseryman discovers, or
thinks he has discovered, a new variety of value. His
interest often increases his estimate of its worth. He im-
mediately sets about propagating it. Every bud in his
ingenious hands becomes a tree, and every tree, a year
after, a hundred, and so on, until he has tens of thousands
for sale. These must be disposed of at prices yielding a
large profit. They are extensively advertised, and as ex-
tensively disseminated. They go into all quarters, and
are largely planted. And this increase is generally to be
multiplied by the number of nurserymen engaged in the
business. And, as we have already intimated, if confined
to proper limits, it is both legitimate and commendable,
because every real improvement is a substantial acquisi-
tion and valuable addition to the public weal, and should
be encouraged and fostered. But the misfortune is, that
these new varieties which have cost so much, often turn
out to be poor bearers, of inferior quality, or perhaps en-
tirely worthless. In some cases, the fault is wholly with
the originator who introduced and disseminated them.
He may have done so solely for lucre, and totally regard-
less of character and honesty ; but this is not generally
the case. In most instances, he honestly believes in the
value of his production ; but in this he is mistaken. He
has not sufficiently tested it. He has not considered the

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— VARIETIES, 155

now well established fact that climate, soil and position
greatly affect the value of particular varieties. That
what may be exceedingly valuable in one latitude, may be
almost worthless in another ; that what may be first-class
in a light, sandy soil, may be third-rate in a clayey one ;
that what may be a hardy, productive tree in a sheltered
yard, may be tender or barren when exposed in an open
orchard. To all these tests the new candidate for public
favor should be subjected. If it pass them all satisfac-
torily, it may, and ought to, be received, and placed upon
the list of approved varieties, but not before^ for great
injury and loss have resulted from the extensive planting
of highly praised, but poorly tested, varieties; and it is
time planters should give this matter their attention.
There has been too much laxity in the past ; let there be
more care in the future.

. We have alluded, incidentally, to the difference of lati-
tude in determining tbe value of a variety. We now fur-
ther remark that it often determines the incidental local
value of the same variety. Take, for instance, the Amsden's
June, which is the earliest variety of which we have any
knowledge— certainly the earliest one in general cultiva-
tion. Between the extreme limits, north and south, of
the peach bearing district in our own country, there is at
least two months* difference in the time of its ripening.
In Florida, the middle of June; in New York, the
middle of August. Now, for the South, you want the
earliest variety that can be had, in order to be first in
market ; but it does not necessarily follow that you want
the same variety for the North, and for this reason : Very
early and very late varieties, as a rule, are not the best,
but, because of the season of their ripening, they com-
mand high prices, and are, therefore, profitable. Take
the New York market for an illustration. This market
opens about the twenty-fifth of July with HaMs Early^
but the peaches have been grown on the Delaware Penin-
7*

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IjM^ PKjkCH cinznrBx.

■ula^ two hundred miks eoath of that <uty, and cannot be
matured in the vieinity for a month later. But by that
time it is the hdght of the peach season, and Old Mixon,
Moore^M FavcrUe^ Crawford*^ JBarfy and ZcOe^ Beeves
MivoriiCy Red JRareripe and Stump the Worlds the very
finest varieties in quality as well as appearance, are on
the market, and arriving by scores of thousands daily.
Now, it is quite plain that HciJU^e Early ^ even from its
£ivorite localities, could not successfully compete with
these choice kinds ; and how much less when grown fur-
ther north, on less conducive soil, and, consequently, of
smaller size, and poorer flavor ? The judicious planter,
then, of Pernisylvania, New Jersey and Southern New
York, if he plant at all for market, wHl not plant Hah^s
Early y but, on the contrary, some one or more of the later
sorts ; and thus, after the zenith of the season, and a^r
these favorites have almost disappeared from the stands,
he will be able to step in, and prolong their season three
or four weeks, at very handsome profits. The intelligent
planter, on making his selections, will always do so with
reference to soil, climate and location, and even plant dif-
ferent varieties on the same farmy simply because one
field is a light loam, and the other a stiff clay.

After attention to the primary question of soil and cli-
mate, the next thing to be considered is the market to be
supplied, or the use which is to be made of the fruit.
Prejudice or habit often exalts one variety at the expense
of another. This may have arisen in whim or accident,
and may be continued by ignorance or selfishness. It
may be all wrong, but few have the courage or patience
to undertake its cure. Hence, if people wiU give more
money for a worse article, they will generally be allowed
to do so. Planters will not persist to cure them of their
folly, and pay the doctor's bill at the same time, but rather
acquiesce in their tastes, and minister to them. Hence^
iBTe send one variety of Pear to Boston, another to New

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TABIETIES. 15?

Tork^ and keep a third and better one at home. So in
peaches. A few years ago, it was thought there was no
peach fit to preserve bnt the Health Gling^ and none fit to
can but the white-fle^hed ; but now it is admitted that
sey eral others may be preserved ; and, for canning, yeUoto
peaches have superseded white ones almost entirely. But
whatever is most in demand, brings the best price ; and,
as the planter plants for profit, that is his ultimate aim,
and must not be overlooked.

If there is demand for canning at home, he will do well
to ascertain what varieties bring the highest prices at the
canning establishments, and whether the demand is suffi-
cient to influence or control his planting. If not, or only
to a limited extent, he will then consider the requirements
of the markets to which his font is to be sent, and pro-
vide for these.

Our directions here can only be of a general character,
and must always be considered with reference to what we
have already said of climate, soil and local circumstances.
One thing we wish to impress upon young planters espe-
cially : It i$j not to plant too many varieties. In no case
should they exceed twenty ; in most, twelve will be
enough; and in some, «*sb will be better than twelve.
What these shall be will depend upon the circumstances
we have already referred to.

The different varieties of the peach are distinguished
by their leaves^ UoMom$ and fruity and sometimes by
the iramJuB and general contour of the head. On enter-
ing an orchard, the practiced eye of the skillful nursery-
man or planter will be able to distinguish familiar varie-
ties at a glance, in the absence of both flowers and
foliage. But he may not be able to explain satisfactorily
why he can do so; it is a similar power to the one that
enables the shepherd to distinguish the sheep of his flock,
although to a stranger they all seem alike.

The most striking difference in the leaves of the peach

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158

PKACH CULTUBE.

is the presence or absenoe of glands. The glands are se-
creting ceils at the base of the lea^ and forming slight
protuberances. Their secretions are often fragrant and
agreeable. In some varieties the glands are small, round

^.

^

-^

Fig. 28.— OL0B08B
GLANDS.

and regular, (A, A, fig. 28,) and are called,
in botanical language, globose; in others
they are large, irregular, and kidnej-
shaped, (A, A, fig. 29,) and are called renir
form. There is still another character-
istic distinction in the leaves of the white
and yellow varieties, and broadly mark-
ing the line between them. This is the
ccior, which is nearly as obvious in the leaf as the fruit,
and may be observed during the whole
f period of foliage. In looking over an
orchard,* the yellow peach trees can
readily be distinguished by the yellow
tinge of their leaves ; and the experienced
planter can just as certainly tell the one
from the other by the leaf as by the
Fig. 29.— behifosm fruit. These distinctions will enable the
GLANDS. planter to classify varieties, and to refer

any variety to its proper class.

The blossoms distinguish the peach into two classes or
divisions also. In one, the flowers are large, red at the
center, and pale at the margin ; in the other, the flowers
are small, with a dark crimson margin. There are a few
varieties whose blossoms seem to possess a combination
of these characteristics, and are sometimes referred to a
third division ; but their distinctive features will hardly
justify this addition.

To common observers, the jft'uit affords the most obvi-
ous distinction. Indeed, few, except the planter and
nurseryman, trouble themselves with anything else. The
multitude are content to regale themselves with the rich^
luscious, melting fruit, without giving a thought to tree.

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VABUfiTIBS. 159

leaf or flower ; and perhaps thousands who enjoy this ele-
gant luxury every summer can hardly tell whether the
peach tree is deciduous or evergreen, or even a tree at
all ! But they all know the difference between a Free-
stone and Cling^ a Yellow peach and a White one. And
these are really, if not the most certain, the most obvious
distinctions. Color strikes the eye at once.

The White Peaches are distinguished for the tender,
delicate, and sparkling quality of their flesh ; the Yellato
for their bright color, rich juice, and great size. In the
former, sweetness predominates ; in the latter, strength. To
most persons, especially those of experience and practiced
taste, the former are most palatable ; yet some, even of
this class, prefer the latter. But to the multitude at large,
the bright color and large size of the yellow peaches are
irresistable ; and, as a rule, they sell better in market
than the white.

The fruit is again divided into Freestone and Clingy and
each of these divisions includes both white and yellow
peaches. The names clearly indicate their distinctive
character. The former parts from the stone freely^ while
the latter clings to it tenaciously. The clings, especially
of some varieties, are very juicy and vinous, and of ex-
quisite flavor. But they are not popular as a market
fruit, owing to their adhesion to the stones, which
renders them inconvenient to eat.

The class, and sometimes variety, may be told by the
branches and general contour of the head. In some, the
branches strike out horizontally ; in others, almost verti-
cally ; and in others still, at an intermediate angle. The
first gives the round head, like the apple tree ; the second,
the tapering head, somewhat resembling the cherry tree ;
and the last, the spreading or fan-shaped head. An ob-
servant planter will soon notice these peculiarities, and
thus be able to tell his trees even in the winter, when
stripped of foliage.

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160 PBACH CULTPSS.

We have already caotioned the yoni^ planter agaiBst;
the common error of planting too many varieties. We
ahall now proceed to advise him what varieties he should
select And here we wish still fhrther to remark, that
some varieties do very well in certain localities, and very
ill in others. For instance, Armden^s June, a compara-
tively recent and generally popular variety, is a great
favorite with some peach growers, while by others it is
viewed with distmst. Both of these may be right, as
some localities may suit it, while others do not.

Bat experience has proved that some varieties do well
almost in any place, whatever may be the soil or climate;
that wherever the Peach will succeed at all, they will ;
and these may justly be regarded as the most reliable and
valuable of all for general cultivation. Preeminent among
these are the Graw/ards and Old Mixon. They are the
very highest type of the tohite and yellow varieties, re-
spectively ; and years of experience, in all parts of our
country, place them at the very head of the list.

Prom authentic sources, embracing in territory more
than twenty States, and in variety more than fifty sorts,
we have, at some pains, prepared the following tables,
which show, at a glance, general results. Bat it must be
remembered that the merits of any given variety are not
determined for one reason, but for many; and that a
peach of the finest flavor may take a low grade, while one
of very poor flavor may rank high. What is sought, and
T what makes the character, is a combination or many
virtues. The largest number of these virtues gives the
highest rank. A peach may be of excellent flavor, but a
poor bearer ; it may be a good bearer, but subject to rot,
or the crop may not ripen. It may be a good bearer, may
ripen a crop of fine flavored fruit, but so small that they
will not sell, and, in consequence, it goes down to the foot
of the list. Vigor and productiveness of the tree, and
size, color, and richness of the fruit, is the summit of the

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TAB£BTIB& 161

planter's ambition • and he shonld never cease striving
for it.

The following table shows the relative popularity of
twelve varieties in the peach districts, the contest being
for the first rank, and the figures indicating the votes by
districts :

Old Mixon Free, 9

Crawford^s Early, 7

Crawford's Late, 6

Old Mixon Cling, 3

Heath Cling, .....•...* 3

Smock, 3

Troth, , . , 3

Ward's Late, 3

Amsden, 2

Large Early York, 2

Stump the World, 2

Morris' White, 1

The vote, in detail, stands thus :

For Old Mixon Fbbe : Delaware, District of Columbia,
Central Illinois, Southern Illinois, Massachusetts, Eastern
New York, Western New York, Eastern Pennsylvania,
and Western Pennsylvania.

These nine districts would place Old Mixon at the very
head of the list, or, rather, not allow precedence to any
other, as some of them give equal grade to several varie-
ties.

For Crawford's Early : Delaware, District of Colum-
bia. Southern Indiana, Massachusetts, Western New
York, Eastern Pennsylvania, and Western Pennsylvania,
For Crawford's Latb : Delaware,. District of Columbia,
Southern Indiana, Western New York, Eastern Pennsyl-
vania, and Western Pennsylvania.

For Old Mixon Cling : District of Columbia, Northern
Indiana, and Southern Indiana.

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162 PSACH CULTURE.

For Heath Cung : Northern Indiana, Sonthem Indiana,
and Southern Ohio.

For Smock: Central Illinois, Southern Illinois, and
Eastern Pennsylvania.

For Troth: Central Illinois, Sonthem Illinois, and
Eastern Pennsylvania.

For Ward's Late : Southern Ulinoia, Eastern Pennayl-
yanin, and Western Pennsylvania,

Fob AMSDEifir : Northern Ohio, and Central Ohio.

For Large Early York : Southern Illinois, and Eastern
Pennsylvania.

For Stump the World : Southern Illinois, and Western
Pennsylvania.

For Morris' Whitb : Southern Indiana.

The second place is assigned to the following seventeen
varieties, the figures opposite denoting the number of dis-
tricts that give them this grade :

Morris' White, 17

Early York, 16

George the Fourth, 16

Grosse Mignonne, 16

Large Early York, 15

Crawford's Late, 14

Crawford's Early, 13

Heath Cling, 12

Old Mixon Cling, 12

Yellow Rareripe, 12

Ward's Late, 11

Lemon Cling, 10

Old Mixon Free, 10

Smock, 10

Amsden, 9

Stump the World, 9

Troth's Early, 9

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VABIETIE8.

163

These tables are very interesting, as indicating the
preference given for the several varieties ; but the reports,
upon which they are based, being only partial or local,
they must not be relied on as absolute verity, but only as
proximate truths, derived from the best sources of informa-
tion at present accessible. It will be further observed
that these tables do not fully indicate the aggregate
merits of the respective varieties, inasmuch as one variety
may have, and often has, several votes for the first grade,
and as many more for the second. Now, neither of them
gives the absolute quality, but the aggregate of both.
This will appear in the following tablo :

Varieties.

Crawford's Early. . .

Crawford's Late

OldMixon Free

Morris* White

Large J)arly York. . ,

Early York

George the Fourth.
Grosse Mignonne..

Heath Cling

Old Mixon Cling...
Ward's Late Free..

Smock ^.

Troth .\

Yellow Rareripe...

Amsden..

Stamp the World. .
Lemon Cling

Votes for

Votes for

Isl Bank.

2d Bank.

Aggregate.

7

13

20

6

14

20

9

10

19

1

17

18

2

15

17

16

16

16

16

16

16

S

12

15

S

12

15

8

11

14

8

10

IS

3

9

12

12

12

2

9

11

2

9

\h^

10

This table of gradations, from 20 to 10, shows at a
glance the general estimate, as ascertained from numerous
reports from all parts of the country, and may be safely
relied on as a general guide. It is subject, however, to
the observations we have already made, and also to the
following.

Some of the varieties above named are of very poor
quality, but, owing to their productiveness, and time of
ripening, are favorites in some localities. Of such is the
Troth. Others, although of excellent quality, and rea-
sonably productive, have not been introduced, or exten-
sively cultivated, and in some of the districts reporting.

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164 PEACH CULTURE.

have not been tested, therefore their merits are nnknown.
Of such, we belieye, is Stump the World.

Since the publication of the first edition in 1870, sev-
eral new varieties haye been introduced, and will be
noticed here. A further trial has shown that ffale's
Early is ahnost worthless, and, by common consent of
growers on the Delaware Peninsula, has been discarded
in all lists of approyed or commended yarieties.

The Salway, although a fair peach, is not commended
for the reason that it is inferior to the Smock, which
ripens about the same time.

Under the head,

NEW PEACHES.

we note the following varieties, which are highly com«
mended by some. From personal observation we can
only speak of these three yarieties ; and even these we
have only seen in bearing a single season. They are,
Amsden- Alexander^ Early Louise, and Early Bivers, all
of which we saw in great beauty and perfection in the
orchard of Dr. Henry Sidgely, at Dover, Delaware, in
the summer of 1880 ; and to him are we principally in-
debted for the following description :

Almost all nurserymen and planters who have fruited
thetn agree that the Amsden and Alexander are identical
They have the same taste, the same appearance, and
ripen the same time; and, therefore, there seems no
reason for giving the same peach two names ; but, as we
cannot decide which has seniority of introductfon, we
compound the two names, and call the peach the

Amsden-Albxaistdbk.

Very Early ; gathered at Dover, Delaware, and shipped
to New York June 25, 1880 ; size below medium ; form
oblong ; highly colored ; flesh greenish-white, presenting
a somewhat unripe appearance near the stone ; pleasant

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VABIETIES. 165

but not rich taste. Tree a fine grower and great bearer.
It was observed that the first picking was wormy. Se-
garded as a valuable acquisition.

Eably Loitise.

Very Early, closely following the Amsden- Alexander.
Bipened, gathered, and marketed out of the same orchard
the same season, July 6th. Fruit small, long, slender,
and ill-shaped, with a green, unripe appearance at com-
plete maturity. Flesh greenish-white, very sweet, ad-
hering to the stone. Tree a good grower, and quite pro-
ductive so far as tested.

Eablt Siyebs.

The best of the Early peaches. Oomes in immediately
after and with the Louise, and a few days in advance of
the Hale. Picked by Dr. Ridgely July 9, 1880. Medium
to large ; round and handsome ; pure white, rarely with
a faint blush when ripening in hot, dry weather. Stone
small. Flesh rich, tender, sweet, of high flavor, but very
slightly stringy. Flowers large. Tree a fine grower and
fair bearer. The skin and flesh are so tender that it
requires the most careful handling, and does not bear
shipping well.

FOSTEB.

Origm near Boston. Yellow freestone. Very large,
round, and of good quality. Sipens with, or a little in
advance of, the Early Ora^ord, and is regarded by some
as superior to that peach.

Lord Palmbkstok.

Very large ; skin creamy white, with a pink cheek ;
flesh firm, melting, juicy, and rich. Middle to end of
August.

Mountain Boss.

Origm, Morris County, New Jersey. Large, roundish ;

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skin whitish ; nearly covered with dark red ; flesh white,
juicy, and good. Tree vigorous and productiye. August.

Piquet's Late.

A Georgia freestone variety of great size. Yellow, with
red cheek; flesh yellow, melting, sweet, and highly
flavored. Season, last of September.

Princess op Wales.

Very large and beautiful ; creamy, with a rosy cheek ;
rich, melting, excellent.

Skow.

A beautiful peach of medium size ; clear, creamy
white throughout ; very desirable for preserving. Hardy
and productive; blossoms white and shoots greenish.
August and September.

Steadly.

A new freestone variety of western origin, not yet suf-
ficiently tested to speak decisively. Hardy and produc-
tive. Fruit large, round ; greenish color ; flesh white to
the seed, and of good flavor. October.

Waterloo.

A seedling originating with Mr. Henry Lisk, of Water-
loo, N. Y. The owner describes it thus : *' Size, me-
dium to large. Form, round, with a deep suture on one
side, from stem to apex ; stem in a deep cavity ; apex
slightly depressed. Color, pale whitish green in shade ;
marbled red, deepening into dark red or crimson, in
the sun. Flesh, greenish-white, with abundance of
sweet, vinous juice; adheres to the stone." Season,
first of July, or with the Amsden- Alexander.

Many other new varieties might be added to this list ;
but we do not believe that any good result will be attained
by doing so. Amateurs who wish to experiment will find

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DESCRIPTIVE CATALOGUE. 167

an ample field by consnlting the catalogues of the leading
nurserymen of the country.

In our next chapter we will speak more in detail of va-
rieties for planting.

CHAPTER XXX.

DESCRIPTIVE CATALOGUE.

We have already cautioned the young planter against
the common error of planting too many varieties. We
now propose to advise him in regard to those he should
plant. Having given due weight to what we have said
on soil, climate, and location, he will still further have re-
gard to the markets, time of ripening, and number of
trees he is to plant.

If he is near a great city, it will generally be for his inter-
est to get into market as early as practicable, and, there-
fore, the early sorts will suit him best. But this may not
always hold good ; for the same motive that influences
him will likely impel many others, and thus the competi-
tion may be so great, as to reduce the price below profit.
When there is danger of this, a later variety may be
preferable. These remarks apply with equal force to all late
kinds, and for the same reason. If the grower has to send
, to a distant market, be should have some regard to that,
and select the kinds that will bear carriage.

If he is going to raise fruit for canning, then the season
is not so much an object as the quality of the fruit, and
its special adaptation to this purpose, and this will influ-
ence his selection.

Again, the planter should consider whether he will
plant for a supply during the entire season, or only a part

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168 PEACH CULTURE.

of it. The peach season proper, on the Delaware Penin-
sula, continues two months from the first of August. To
supply this, it requires eight or ten varieties, at least, ri-
pening consecutively ; and they must be carefuUy selected
with this view, for, if they overlap or run into each other,
that number will not be sufficient. But when there is a
full crop, when all varieties are fruitful, the season often
commences earlier, and runs clear through October, add-
ing five or six weeks to its duration. Now, if the planter
wishes to avail himself of this entire period, he will have
to plant accordingly, commencing with the very earliest,
and closing with the very latest. And again, he may be
afraid to rely on a single variety in each progressive step
of the course ; and, if so, he will plant double-— that is, he
will plant two varieties, ripening as nearly together as
practicable, and thus guard against the failure of either to
produce a crop, or to command an adequate price. This,
of course, will largely increase bis list.

But the reflective planter may think that a few well
chosen sorts will pay him better than many — some of
which are not first-rate — and confine his selection to these.
This will do very well if nobody leads or follows him.
But suppose all come to the same conclusion, and act ac-
cordingly ? It is easily seen the peach season would soon
be reduced to a few days only, and then there would be
such a glut, that transportation could not be found, even
if pickers and buyers could. The folly of running away
after a few special favorites has been seen in several in-
stances. A few years ago, the rage was for very early
fruit, because very early fruit had sold exceedingly high.
Nurserymen were beset by anxious enquirers after early
trees. The old, favorite kinds, they could only sell in
small quantities, if at all, and at reduced prices. To meet
this urgent demand, they sought out and propagated the
earliest varieties almost exclusively. The market was
soon supplied with trees ; they were planted by hundreds

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DBSCBIPTIVB. CATALOGUE. 169

of thousands, and the anxious planters coald hardly wait
their coming-in, so eager were they to realize the large
fortunes their fancies had promised them. The time soon
flew by. The trees, whose growth had been watched
with almost maternal care, bore, and abundantly, large
crops of beautiful and delicious fruit. Now their golden
dreams of great and sudden fortune were to be realized.
But, alas,

*' Disappointment Inrks in many a prize,
As bees in flowere, and stings us witli success.**

It was soon found there was " too much of a good
thing." The market was fully supplied, or overstocked
with early peaches, and the inexorable laws of trade soon
reduced the price to mere remuneration, or, at best, to -a
small profit. The consequence was, that early peaches
were pronounced a cheat by many who had been most
enthusiastic in their favor. Again, it was found that vety
late peaches brought high prices one or two seasons, and
immediately a rush was made on them, but not so general
or so intense as the former. Some had been enlightened,
and learned to be prudent. Still later, during the season
of 1869, it was discovered that some varieties, ripening
just in the midst of it, brought the best prices, and forth-
with the young trees of these varieties soon disappear,
and the perplexed nurseryman stands aghast to see his
large stock, both of early and late^ on his hands.

All this proves that the planter should be cautious and
prudent in his selections, and observant of the laws of
trade, especially so far as supply and demand usually af.
feet prices.

One thing, however, he should not do. No hope of
temporary profit should ever tempt him to plant an in-
ferior sort if a really more valuable one can be substituted.

Were we going to plant an orchard, and restricted to
six varieties, we would select three white and three yellow
sorts, and these should form our list :

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170 PEACH CULTUBE.

Wmn. TsLLow.

AoudeB, Crawford^B Early,

Old Mixon Free, Reeve's Favorite,

Stamp the World. Crawford's Late.

And if we enlarged it to twelve, they should be these r
Whitb. Yblix)w.

Amsden, Crawford's Early,

Early Yortc, Yellow Rareripe,

Hoorc's Favorite, Reeve's Favorite,

Old Mixon Free, Crawford's Late.

Red Rareripe, Smock.
Stamp the World,
Ward's Late.

Beyond this we should not seek to go; but if compelled
to increase our list to twenty varieties, they would ran
thus :

Whitb. Ybllow.

Amsden, Crawford's Early,

Troth's Early, Reeve's Favorite.

Early York, Yellow Rareripe,

Orosse Mignonne, Crawford's Late,

Large Early York, Sasqnehanna,

Moore's Favorite, Red Cheek,

Old Mixon, Salway.

Red Rareripe,
Noblesse,
Stump the World,
Morris' White,
Druid Hill,
Ward's Late.

Some of these we can recommend from observation and
experience, as well as from the almost universal testimony
of planters in all parts of the country. So far as our per-
sonal knowledge goes, it must be remembered that it is
confined principally to the Peninsula, where the peach
reaches its highest perfection, both in size and flavor ; and
some of those that do well here, may not do so well else-
where, and vice versa. We would further remark, in
passing, that in the varieties we have named, there is the

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DESCBIPnVB CATALOGUE. 171

greatest diflerence in merit. The order in -which they
are named does not indicate, in any degree, our opinion
of their relative worth, but rather the order of their
coming in.

We give a more or less brief description of the vari-
eties named, adding a few others.

WHITE PEACHES.

Troth's Early.

We have placed this variety in our largest planting
list, but we cannot really recommend it at all in respect
of its quality, for this we consider very inferior. It is
neither rich nor palatable ; neither is its size such as to
make it showy and attractive. But it has several good
traits, in a marketable point of view, which have enabled
it, for many years, to maintain itself as a leading variety.
The most prominent of these was its early maturity.
Before the introduction of Ifale's Early ^ it was the first
in market. This alone was sufficient to comm&nd it to
planters, for some people will buy the first fruit that
makes its appearance, of whatever quality, and at what-
ever price. Besides being early, it has a handsome bright
red cheeky and this was greatly in its favor. Add to these,
wonderful productiveness and yood carrying qualities,
and it is not strange that it held its place so long. But
it lacked two essential merits — size and flavor — and as

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172 PSACH CULTURE.

soon as an earlier one was discovered, it was vanquishea, *
and almost driven from the field. In 1869, it scarcely
paid the expenses of picking and shipping, and now may
be regarded as abandoned on the Peninsula. Where
an earlier variety does not succeed, it may be planted mod-
erately, in order to supply an early market^ provided, al-
ways, that there is no other of better quality, and equally
early, within reach.

Tree a moderate grower, with firm, compact wood, and a
fan-shaped head; branches numerous, and rather slender;
very productive. Flowers small Z«ave« glandular. FruU
small round, or nearly so, red ; flesh white, slightly red
at the stone ; quality poor. Setuon, 1st of August* F.

Early York.

Early Pui-ple, Serrate Early York.

Pourpr^e Hative,

An old and well-known variety. Size medium ; form
roundish oval ; suture slight. 8khi thin ; color pale or
white in the shade, but richly mantled with red in the
sun. Flesh white, with reddish tinge at the stone, rich,
juicy, melting, vinous, and sprightly excellent; ripens
about the 10th of August. Tree a moderate grower, but
of firm, close-grained wood ; round head ; very little sub-
ject to disease. Flowers large. Leaves serrate, without
glands. A justly popular variety. F.

Grosse Mig^onne.

Royal Kensington, Vineuse de Fromentin,

Grimwood^s Royal George, Migpaonne,

New Royal George, Velout6e de Merlet,

Large French Mignonne, Yiueuse,

French Mignonne, Pourpr6e de Normandie,

Swiss Mignonne, Belle BeantS,

Purple Avant, Belle Bansse,

Early Purple Avant, La Royal,

Early May, Pourpr^e Hative,

Early Vineyard, Ronald's Seedling Galande,

Neirs 5arly Puiple, Royal Sovereign,

Johnson's Early Purple, Superb Royal.
8

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DESCKIPTIVE CATALOGUE. 173

This has been a favorite variety in both France and
England for more than a century, and has elicited the
highest praise from these quarters. It has also been very
popular in some parts of our own country, but is not now
extensively cultivated on the Peninsula ; but whether this
is owing to a want of adaptation to our soil or climate, to
the superiority of other sorts of its season, or to the lack
of friends to disseminate it, we will not say. Its undoubt-
ed popularity in some localities, and for a long time, is
Mly attested, not only by the cumulative testimony of
many witnesses, but by an unusually long list of syno-
nyms. Of these there are more than twenty.

In New England, it is a favorite for cultivation under
glass, and in Georgia, in the orchard.

Tree medium, or large, hardy, and a regular bearer.
Fruit large, roundish, somewhat depressed, with hollow
at the top ; skin, pale, greenish-yellow, mottled with red,
with a red cheek, sometimes taking a purple tinge. Plesh
yellowish-white, red at the stone, melting, juicy, rich, and
vinous. Stone small and rough. Flowers large. Season^
August l(Hh to 15th.

LAfiGB Eaely York.

Early Rareripe, Livingstones Rareripe,

Haines' Early Red, New Torlt Rareripe,

Honest John, Walter's Early.

This is a very popular peach wherever known, and its
popularity is well deserved. It comes in immediately
• after the Troth, and by many is regarded as the very best
of its season.

Tree large, vigorous, and healthy. Leaves large, with
globose glands, sometimes obscure. Flowers small.
Fruit above medium, round, divided into unequal halves
by a well defined suture ; skin pale, yellowish-white, deli-
cately dotted with bright red, deepening and thickening
into a fine blush on the side next the sun. Flesh pale

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174 PEACH CULTUBE.

white, reddening towards the stone, melting, juicy, rich^
luBcioiis. /SeasoHy middle of August

Moore's Favorite.

This is, in all respects, one of the very best peaches in
the whole catalogue ; and for the health, vigor, hardiness,
and productiveness of the tree, as well as for the size,
beauty, and richness of the fruit, we know none that ex-
cels it. It is, by many, supposed to be identical with the
Old Mixon Free ; and, indeed, it differs very little from
that old, superb, and far-famed peach ; and the differences
are so slight, as only to be detected by a connoisseur, and
not certainly in any case except by comparison of the
fruit. The trees, in their growth, appearance, and habit,
are precisely alike, and the fruit, in size and quality, also.
The only distinctive features that the planters most fa-
miliar with both varieties have been able to detect, are
two. Moore's Favorite, on the same soil, in the same
orchard, ripens two or three days before Old Mixon^ and
the fruit, although of tlie same size, shape, and color, has
a more ddicate^ transparent^ and wax4ike skin^ heighten-
ing its beauty, and increasing its attractions. Its striking
resemblance to the Old Mixon, leads us to believe that it
is either a seedling of that excellent peach, or an acci-
dental variation in its propagation.

It is a native of Delaware, and originated with Mr. J.
V. Moore, of Odessa, whose name it bears.

Th'ee hardy, vigorous, fruitful, and a tolerable grower ;
wood close-grained, and elastic. Leaves globose-glandu-
lar. Flowers small. Fruit large, roundish, slightly oval;
suture obscure, except at the apex ; color white, mingled
with pale green, changing into a beautiful clear red as it
becomes fully exposed to the sun ; skin waxy, and almost
transparent. Flesh white, red at the stone, rich, excel-
lent ; Season^ August 12th. F.

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DESCBIPTIVE CATALOGUE, 17^

Old Mixon Freb.

Old Mixon Freestone, Old Mixon Clearetone.

This superb old peach is the delight of all planters
worthy of the name. It is without fault, and blameless.
Not to admire it when gracefully supporting its enormous
burden of large, choice, rich, beautiful, melting and lus-
cious fruit in a bright, hot day in August, would be to
acknowledge one's self insensible to the charms of nature
and of grace. No Christian could be so callous.

The tree is much inclined to spread into numerous long,
slender, tough, graceful branches, thus giving it a some- ,
what elm-shape ; and these branches hardly ever break, it
matters not what weight they bear. They are so tough,
so slenrler, and so well proportioned, that they will bend
like a bow under their rich load of precious fruit, until
the lower ones rest upon the ground, and thus form sup-
porting columns for those above them, when they present
a most charming sight — a spectacle worthy the admiration
of a prince. We. never get tired looking at one of these
noble old trees when thus clothed in its native grace and
dignity ; it supports the weight of many hundred fine,
ripe, red-cheeked peaches, which seem to hide their beau-
tiful blushes in a sheen of waving green. And in driving
through the orchard, day after day have we stopped in
the same spot to view and admire this beautiful and grate-
ful sight. There it stood, a single column, erect and firm,
supporting its hundred graceful arches, decked with rich-
est fruits, in bright and beautiful colors, shaded and soft-
ened by the green foliage, forming a hemisphere in out-
line, with base resting on the earth, and apex pointing to
the sky. So perfect was the picture, that we never could
bring ourselves to pluck a single peach ! No, indeed ;
that would have been profanation. It would have spoiled
the symmetry of the whole ; and we would as lief have
soiled a portrait, or marred a statue. Had we had the

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176 PEACH CULTUBB.

power, we would have bidden it be perennial ! In choos-
ing our trees "for family use," Old Mixon is always
named first. In that, there is no discussion of merits, no
diversity of opinion ; it has the unanimous vote of the
household, and that vote is never reconsidered. Other
sorts may take their chances, and stand their trials, but
Old Mixon's position is secure, and beyond competition.

It is supposed to be a seedling from the Old Mixon
Oling, which was brought to this country from England
by Sir John Oldmixon, whose name it bears;. It is a very
hardy, thrifty, long-lived, and productive tree. It does
WeU wherever the peach will flourish. Taking into view
the hardiness, freedom from disease, and productiveness
of the tree, and the size, beauty, and richness of the fruit,
it has no superior.

Leaves with globose glands. Flowers smalL Fruit
large, roundish, sometimes sliglitly swollen on one side ;
skin white, with a beautiful deep blush when fully ex-
posed to the sun. Flesh white, but red at the stone, ten-
der, rich, sugary and vinous ; excellent. Season^ August
15th. F.

Red Rarebipe.

Laiig^e Bed Bareripe, Early Bareripe.

This is a very handsome and excellent peach, and highly
popular wherever cultivated. It is supposed to be a seed-
ling from the Royal George, but this arises only from its
strong resemblance to that variety. The fruit is larger
and broader than the Early York, and this seems to dis-
tinguish it from that variety. It is also ten days later.
It sometimes mildews in uncongenial soil. The leaves are
without glands.

Fruit large, globular, broader at the base than top,
somewhat depressed; suture broad, and extending to
both sides ; skin white, mottled with red dots, with a
rich, red cheek. Flesh white, reddening towards the

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DBSOEIPTIVE CATALOGtTB. 177

Stone, juicy, rich, melting and high flavored. Season^
August 25th.

Noblesse.
Vangoard, Mellish, Lord Montogae.

In England, this peach has obtained and retained an
excellent reputation, and this after long years of extensive
cultivation and trial In this country, it is scarcely less
valued, although its cultivation has not been general As
a variety suitable for forcing, it stands very high, and
many trellises and walls are adorned with it.

!nree hardy and productive. Leaves without glands.
Ihiit large, globose-oblong, slightly pyramidal, termina-
ting in an acute point ; skin pale green, slightly downy,
with delicate red cheek. Flesh pale green, or milk-white
to the stone, juicy, melting, luscious, spicy. Season^ last
of August.

Stump the Wobld,

We- regard this as one of the very best peaches we
have ; and, excepting in color, little, if any, inferior to
Moore's Favorite and Old Mixon, to which it bears a
strong family likeness. It is fully two weeks later than
these favorite sorts, which gives additional value as a
market peach. With us, on the Peninsula, it has not
been as extensively introduced and cultivated as its merits
deserve ; but, wherever it has been tried, it has given the
liveliest satisfaction. Its paleness prevents it from arrest-
ing the attention of those who are carried away by
bright, gay colors, and thereby slight modest virtue, in
their eager search for dash and show. But when its real
worth shall be better known, it will certainly be highly
appreciated by all lovers of good fruit, and should become
one of our most valuable market varieties.

Tree thrifty, vigorous, hardy and productive, but not an
enormous bearer. Leaves with globose glands. Flowers

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178 PKACH CXTLTURE.

smalL ^ruit large, oval ; suture shallow ; skin white,
slight blush in the sun. JfJeah white, juicy, rich, sparkling,
high flaYored, excellent. Season^ last of August. F.

MoBBis' Whitk.

Morris' White Rareripe, White Melocoton,

White Rareripe, Cole's White Melocoton,

Luscious White Rareripe, Freestone Heath.

Lady Ann Steward, Morris' White Freestone,

We wish to premise here, that the Morris* White be-
longs to a class of peaches entirely distinct from all those
we have already described. They are called, in general
terms, tohiie peaches, but this distinctive character is only
relatively so, and does not extend throughout ; and the
reader will have observed that, in all our descriptions of
the iruit, we attribute to it some degree of red?iess at the
stone, Now, the Morris' White belongs to a class entirely
different in this respect The flesh of this class lacks this
interior red tinge, and is a pure white throughout, and
thus draws a line of distinction as broad, as deep, and as
well defined as that which separates the white and yeUaw
fleshed. In some respects, more so ; for the white peaches
have white skins, are never red cheeked, and seldom ever
mottled ; while the deep red blush is alike common to white
and jellow fleshed -pevLcheB. Other distinctive peculiarities
might be mentioned. White are more subject to crack
than either of the other classes. They ripen more together,
nearly all coming in at one time. They never attain the
size of either of the others, and they are drier, and less
subject to rot.

Hence, JFreestOfie Peaches are properly subdivided into
JRed, White, and Yellow, according to the color of the
flesh.

The Morris* White is a native, and very popular. For
many years it has stood at the head of white peaches,
and it has, to-day, no admitted superior, although one or

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DESCRIPTIVE CATALOGUE. J79

two Others of its class exceed it in size. The tree is gen-
erally vigorous and healthy, but not in all soils. It seems
to thrive best in light, sandy loams, and is admirably
adapted to the Peninsula. The leaves have reniform
glands. Flowers small. The fruit is medium, oval;
suture shallow; skin slightly downy, greenish-white at
first, but the green disappears in a creamy white when the
fruit matures, sometimes taking a slight purple tinge when
fully exposed to the direct rays of the sun, and often
specked with small light brown dots. Flesh firm, melt-
ing, sweet, rich and white to the stone. Season^ 15th of
September. F.

Dbuid Hill.

This is a late peach, highly commended. The tree is
said to be very vigorous, thrifty, and productive, with
stout branches, and large leaves. It was brought into
notice by Lloyd N. Rogers, Esquire, of Druid Hill, near
Baltimore, whence it has its name. leaves with globose
glands. Flowers small. Fruit large, globular; stem
cavity, narrow ; suture slight ; skin pale greenish-white,
clouded with red on sunny side. Flesh greenish-white,
but becoming purple towards the stone ; very juicy, and
melting, with an exceedingly rich vinous flavor ; stone
long, and somewhat compressed, with numerous furrows.
Season^ September 20th.

Wabd's Latb.

This is a highly valuable variety. Its quality is very
good, while its season, last of September, is much in its
favor for market. Still, it has not been very extensively
cultivated in the great peach-growing district of the Pen-
insula — ^perhaps because it has had no special friend to
introduce and disseminate it.

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180 PEACH CULTUEB.

Ti'ee vigorous, and productive. Leaves globose-glandu..
lar. Flowers small Fruit rather large, roundish, inclin-
ing to oval ; skin white, with a beautiful crimson cheek.
Flesh white, tinged with red at the stone, rich, juicy,
melting and high flavored. Season^ last of September.

The foregoing thirteen varieties embrace our list of
Red and White peaches, in the order of their season, and
not of their merit. They are all good ; but were we pre-
paring a catalogue according to quality, we should ar-
range them somewhat differently.

We shall now proceed with our list of Yellow varieties
in the same order.

Crawford's Early.

Crawford's Early Melocoton, Early Crawford.

This is justly one of the most popular and highly es-
teemed of all our yellow peaches, and this in no particular
locality, but everywhere, as far as it is known. It seems
equally well suited to both northern and southern climes,
and will thrive in any soil where peaches can be success-
fully grown. As a market peach, it can hardly be ex-
celled. Its beautiful bright red color, and large size, never
fail to sell it at satisfactory prices, and many a planter, at
the close of the season, when balancing accounts, has con-
gratulated himself on the large number of baskets of this
variety he had sent to market, or regretted it was so
small.

It originated with William Crawford, Esquire, of Mid-
dletown, New Jersey. The tree is vigorous, hardy, thrifty
and productive. It is not an enormous, but a uniform,
regular bearer, hardly ever missing when any others in the
same orchard bear. The limbs usually strike out, ahtler-
like, from two, three, or four main branches, and do not
spread, fan-like, as in most of the red and white varieties.
Leaves with globose glands. Flowers small. FhiU very
large, oblong, terminal point prominent; suture slight;
8*

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DBSCRIPTIVB CATALOtJUE. 181

skin yellow, with a beautifiil crimson cheek ; Fhah yellow,
juicy, rich and melting. Season^ 10th of August, F.

Reeves' Favorite.

For size and beauty, there is but one peach in the
whole catalogue that can excel Reeves' Favorite, as grown
in Delaware. And to look down a row of young trees
laden with their precious burden of exquisite fruit, just
at the point of maturity, is certainly a privilege. It is
one of Nature's beautiful pictures, filling the mind at
once with admiration and gratitude, delighting the eye
by its liveliness, and cheering the heart by its exuberance.

It was first brought to notice by Mr, Samuel Reeves, of
Salem, N*ew Jersey.

The tree is very vigorous, stout, and handsome, but
only moderately productive — ^not as good a bearer as the
Crawfords, nor as shy as the Susquehanna. But the size,
richness and beauty of the fruit, go far to compensate
for the smaller quantity ; and, as it always commands the
highest price, we are not quite sure but that it is as profit-
able as some others far more productive.

Leave% with globose glands. Flowers small. Fruit
very large, globose, inclining to oval ; terminal point dis-
tinct ; suture well defined ; skin yellow, with a fine red
cheek. Flesh yellow, red at the stone, rich, juicy, vinous
and melting. Season^ 15th of August. F.

\ Yellow Rabebipb.

Large Yellow Rareripe, Marie Antoinette.

By some, this is regarded as the best flavored of all the
yellow peaches ; and it is really a very find variety of its
class, and a very fine peach. It is of native origin, and
has only come into notice within the last thirty-five years.
The tree is thrifty and hardy in our soil, and produces
&ir crops.

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182 PEACH CULTUBK

Leaves with globose glands. Flowm's small. FruU
large, globose; sutare shallow, bat extends fully half
round ; skin deep orange, dotted somewhat with red, and
shaded off with red streaks. Flesh deep yellow, but red
at the stone, juicy, melting, rich, vinous. Season^ 20th
of August.

Crawford's Latb.

Crawford^ s Late Melocoton, Crawford's Sai>erb Malacatnne,

Crawford's Superb.

This is of the same origin as Crawford's Early, and
partakes strongly of all the distinguishing characteristics
of that excellent peach. It is even more popular, if pos-
sible, than its earlier sister. In size, beauty, and flavor,
it has scarcely a superior, and very few rivals. As a first-
rate market variety, commanding the readiest sale and
highest prices, it stands in the very front rank, and, like
its namesake, its fame reaches as far as peach culture is
known. Were we restricted to a single yellow peach,
this would be our choice.

Tree vigorous, stout, thrifty, with antler-shaped branch-
es. Leaves with globose glands. Flowers small Fruit
very large, ovate ; suture shallow, but distinct ; skin yel-
low, with a fine, deep crimson cheek. Flesh deep yellow,
red at the stone, juicy, melting, rich and excellent. Sea-
son^ 26th of August. F.

SUSQUSHANNA.
Griffith.

In size, beauty, and excellence of flavor, the Susque-
hanna has no equal among yellow peaches, if indeed,
amongst peaches at all.

The tree grows very rapidly, soon becomes large and
handsome, while its dark green, and abundant, foliage
makes it an attractive feature in an orchard of a hundred
sorts. The fruit is exceedingly large ; almost as round as

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DESCRIPTIVE CATALOGUE. 183

a sphere ; fine skinned, with a charming delicate blush
on the cheek next the sun, and surpassingly rich, vinous,
sweet and delicious. To be able to pluck one of these
exquisite peaches, when fully lipe, and eat it under the
tree, on a hot summer day, is the height of luxury — ^it is
luxury itself— and a privilege accorded to few except'
those whose good fortune it is to be able to refresh them-
selves in the shade of their own trees, and regale them-
selves with these luscious peaches at pleasure.

But it is a very shy bearer, and can never become popu-
lar with planters whose aim is profit. It has been tried, and
tried again, and always with the same result. It will not
pay to cultivate it for market ; for, although commanding
the very highest price, yet the crop is so light, that plant-
ers soon become gloomy and desponding. It seems to
still fiirther illustrate the axiom that, where Nature is
exceedingly munificent in the quality of her gifts, she is
correspondingly chary in the quantity. But for garden
culture, no lover of perfection, of its kind, should fail to
plant a Susquehanna.

The tree is a native of Pennsylvania, and originated
with Mr. Griffith, on the banks of the Susquehanna, near
Harrisburg. In its native place it is still highly prized.

F.
Red Cheek.

Red Cheek Melocoton, Yellow Melocoton,

Malagatune, Tellow Malaj^atune,

Malacatnne, Red Cheek Melocoton,
Hogg^s Melocoton.

This has been, and in some quarters, is yet, a great fa-
vorite, and formerly was a very popular variety in the
New York and Philadelphia markets, but of late years,
it has nearly disappeared. The reason we cannot assign.
Perhaps it would be difficult for any one to do so. Year
after year we find some favorite fruit — an apple, it may
be — ^fading away from view, but no one can tell why. If

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184 PEACH CULTUBB.

we enquire whether or not it snoceeds well, we are told
it does. If we again ask, ** Is it not good ?" we are an-
swered, " Yes, excellent f but that is all the satisfection we
receive. Well, it is perhaps to remind us that all things
here are mutable, and passing away ; old fruits, as well as
old Mends and old families ; old associations and fond old
memories claim a passing tear. Let us not grudge it, but
proceed with our task.

It is an American seedling, and is said to be the parent
of both the Crawfords. If this be so, it has left a noble
progeny ; and our regret for the decadence of the parent
will be much modified and softened in contemplating the
robust prosperity and unbounded popularity of the
children.

TVee thrifty, and vigorous. Leaves with globose glands.
JFlowers smalL Fruit large, globose-oval ; terminal point
distinct; skin yellow, with red cheek. i^^aA deep yellow,
with red at the stone, juicy, melting and good.

Smock.
St. George.
This peach originated with Mr. Smock, of Middletown,
New Jersey, whose name it bears. We have put it on
our largest planting list, not because we value it, or would
recommend it, but because some of our neighbors and
friends continue to plant it for market, and would consider
any extended list incomplete without it. It undoubtedly
' has two or thiree good market qualities. It is a hardy,
vigorous tree, succeeding well in almost any soil ; it bears
regularly, and its crops are enormous. In this last respect
it is unsurpassed. So great are its loads, that it often
breaks down under them long before the fruit attains its
size. The fruit is of medium size, or above it, very firm,
and bears carriage well ; it comes in very late, usually
closing the season. For a long time, and until the intro-
duction of Hale's Early, it bore the inverse relation to

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DESCRIPTIVE CATALOGUE. 185

late peaches that Troth's Early did to early ones. Troth
led the column, while Smock brought up the rear. Its
fate is likely to be the same, for the quality of both is
very poor ; and as soon as a better peach, of the same
season, can be found, and we think this will not be long,
Smock will be put upon the retired list. Its capital
faults are duU color and poor flavor.

Leaved with reniform glands. Fruit medium, or large ;
color dull white. Flesh bright yellow, slightly red at the
stone, moderately juicy, strong, but of poor flavor.

This closes our planting list of well tried and approved
freestone peaches. It might be greatly extended, but if
our readers have attended to what we have already said
on the folly of planting too many varieties, they will, we
think, agree with us that it is quite long enough. We
only wish now to remark further, that where we have
spoken of our own knowledge, in regard to the foregoing
varieties, we have added our initial, F. The want of this
will indicate that what we say is derived from informa-
tion, but of such a character as to inspire iuU confidence.

We shall now proceed to describe two white and two
yellow Clingstones^ closing the chapter with brief notices
of one or two new varieties that promise well, but have
not yet been tested. F.

Heath Cling.

Heath, Fine Heath,

Heath Olingstone, Red Heath.

Of this noble old clingstone peach we may, without
exaggeration, and with a slight variation, employ the
poet's language, and say —

" None knows it but to love it,
None names it but to praise."

It is a seedling, produced from a seed brought from the
Mediterranean by Mr. Daniel Heath, of Maryland. It
does not vary when propagated from the seed. It is al-

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186 PEACH OULTUBE.

r nniyersally assigned the highest place in all descrip-
tions of clingstonea. It is large, beautiful, and delicious.
It bears abundantly and constantlj. It never withers,
cracks, specks or rots ; neither disease nor insect assails
it. It is long-lived, and grows almost without care. The
ladies love it for its delicate white skin, exquisite flavor,
and unequaled preserving properties They speak of it
with enthusiasm.

Tree thrifty, healthy and vigorous. Leaves Yerj
slightly serrate, with reniform glands. Flowers smalL
Fruit large, or very large, oblong, oval ; terminal point
large and distinct; suture distinct on one side; skin
downy, pale white, mottled with very small light brown
dots on the cheek exposed to the sun. Flesh very clear,
and white to the stone, tender, melting, juicy, rich, vi-
nous, aromatic, delicious, adheres firmly to the stone. Sea-
son, October 1st, but will keep several weeks after being
gathered. It is often preserved whole, in order to retain
the exquisite flavor of the stone. F.

Old Mixon Cling.
Old Mixon Clingstone.

This is the parent of the Old Mixon Free, and worthy
to be the mother of such a daughter. It is a noble rival
of the Heath, and some will find it hard to make a choice
between them. The leaves have globose glands. Flowers
small. Fruit large, globose-oval ; suture only defined
towards the apex; skin pale white, dotted with red,
sometimes blushing. Flesh clear white, very melting,
juicy, rich, luscious, high flavor. Season^ 1st of Sep-
tember.

Lemon Cling.

Lemon Clingstone, Kennedy's Lemon Clingstone

Largest Lemon , Long Yellow Pineapple,

Pineapple Clingston Yellow Pineapple,

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DESCRIPTIVE CATALOGtJB. 187

This favorite and admirable peach is at the head of all
the yellow clings. It is a native of South Carolina, and
was introduced North by Mr. Kennedy, of New York,
before the Revolutionary War. The tree is hardy, and
very productive. JLeavea long, with reniform glands.
Flowers small. Fruit large, oblong, inclining to a py-
ramidal form at the top; terminal point large and
projecting ; skin fine yellow, with brown cheek in the
sun. Flesh firm, yellow, slightly red at the stone, adher-
ing firmly, with a rich, sprightly, subacid flavor. Season^
middle of September.

Tippecanoe.

Hero of Tippecanoe.

This is a very large and beautiful yellow cling, origi-
nating with Mr. George Thomas, of Philadelphia, and
first brought to the notice of the Pennsylvania Horticul-
tural Society in 1840. Leaves with reniform glands ; the
shoots dark purple, or red. Flowers small. Fruit large,
almost spherical, slightly compressed ; skin yellow, with
a beautiful red cheek. Flesh yellow, juicy, and vinous.
JSecuon, September 20th.

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188 PEACH CULTUBE.

CHAPTEE XXXI.

FANCY VAEIETlEa

Van Buben's Goldek Dwarf.

Of all fancy varieties, Van Buren^s Golden Dwarf is
the moBt beaatifbl as well as the most valuable. We have
never seen it cultivated, except in pots ; but in this form,
when laden with bright, rich and luscious fhnt, it is really
exquisite. It combines beauty and utility in fin extraor-
dinary degree, and alike delights both the palate and
the eye. The leaves are long, deep-green, arrd so closely
set as almost to conceal the branches ; and they are very
seldom shed until autumn frosts. Were the tree entire-
ly destitute of fruit, its graceful form and elegant foliage
would give it a place amongst ornamental shrubs of the
first class. But when we add to this, its rich clusters of
full-sized, gold and carmine peaches, coyly showing their
rosy cheeks, from under their green sheen, redolent with
nourishment, health and joy, it becomes a pure delight —
an admiration. We have seen it at the state &irs, and in
the show windows on Chestnut street, Philadelphia,
where it always attracted attention, and elicited praise.
We have looked at it again and again, but never grew
tired. In horticulture it is a gem.

A cultivator says, " It seldom attains a growth of more
than three feet in height, the original being only twenty-
eight inches when four years old. The buds are so close-

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FANCY VARIETIES. 189

ly set, that one of these little trees, loaded with fruit,
reminds the beholder of an immense bmich of mammoth
grapes." The same writer says, *' It is prodigiously pro-
lific, and in quality of fruit has few if any superior. "
Van BurerCs Golden is a seedling from the common
peach which came up in a bed of seedlings raised by Mr.
J, Yan Buren^ of Clarksville, Georgia.

The Blood Clingstone.

This is a very peculiar fruit, of large size, but very
inferior quality. Some admire it because it is odd ; and
it is sometimes used for pickles and preserves. We do
not admire it or regard it as either useful or omamentaL
Odd it certainly is. When viewed on the tree, it some-
what resembles, in its dark-red color, the prematures of
such varieties as the Smock or Crawford. It is appro-
priately named, for the flesh, when ripe, resembles more the
bloody flesh of a slaughtered animal, than anything else we
have ever seen.

It is said to be an American seedling of the French
Sanguinole d Chair Adherente.

Double Blossomed.

This is a beautiful tree. It blooms with the Double
Flowering Cherry, and is a most suitable companion of
the latter. The flowers are of a beautiful rose-color, several
times as large as those of the common peach. They
are thickly set and very showy. The fruit is of the
Clingstone variety.

It may be dwarfed by budding on the Mirabelle
Plum stock.

The fruit is of indifferent quality, sparsely set, and of a
greenish-yellow color, with a red tinge where exposed to
the sun.

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190 PEAOH CULTURE.

Pebn To.

This is a Chineee yariety, and quite singnlar. It is a
flat peach, about two inches in diameter. The flesh is
produced on the sides only, the ends being flattened down
to the stone. The tree is small, but has a fine foliage,
which holds till late in the fall. It is a freestone. The fruit
is of good flavor. The flesh except a small circle around
the stone is yellow, sweet, juicy and spicy. It ripens
from the middle of August to the 10th of September.

Chinesb Cbookbd Peach.

We name it thus for want of a better, aud as indicative
of its shape, which is long and crooked. The seed was
brought from China, some eight or ten years ago, by a
gentleman of Philadelphia, who owns several plantations
on the Peninsula. He gave it to some professional nur-
serymen of that city for propagation. They succeeded in
rearing some trees, which the gentleman had planted on
his own lands. In 1869, the trees bore a crop; of this
the gentleman says : " The trees are eight or nine years
old, and this summer bore freely. The peaches are re-
markable for their great sweetness. After falling upon
the ground, they remained several weeks undecayed ; but
they were too small, and too odd in their appearance to
be marketable, and must be mainly regarded as a curi-
osity. They do well under glass, and, kept as dwarf trees,
are very ornamental."

Reid's Weeping Peach.

This was originated by Mr. William Reid of Murray Hill
nurseries, Elizabeth, N. J. It is a very peculiar variety
with weeping branches, and a habit much like that of the
weeping ash. It shows to great advantage when budded
on a peach or plum stock about six foet from the ground.
In doing this, a straight clear stock should be selected.

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GENERAL INDEX.

AmygdaloB CochlnchinensiB 13

« commimifl 11

" " var. laevis... 11

niuiA 12

** orientalis IS

" Penica 11

Baskets and Ciates 87

" Beecber 88

" Chip 87

" Number needed 89

" Sizeof 87

" Stave. 87

Bass HattiDe 60

Blossoms, S&e of 158

Boats 101

Bnds 44-60

" CnltiTation of 66

** Expressed 48

" Leaf and Proit 46

" Rnbblngoff 59

Bodders 49

Budding 48

Budding described 51

Budding-knife 61

California, Peaches in 26

Catalogue of Varieties 167

Clingstones 159-186

Coming in 84

Consignees . >...>.» 94

Coulter's, Thomas, Method of Cul-
ture 26

Crates 90

CuUers 106

Culture afteraCrop 114

Cutting back the Stocks 68

Cutting the Ties 56

Delaware Peninsular, Peaches in.. 16

Descriptive Catalogue 167

Drains 120

Empties 109

Espalier 138

Facing 107

Freestones 167

Glands.. 168

Guano in the Nursery 44

Heeling-in 67

Dlinois, Peaches m 21

insects and Diseases.. 120

'' Mg&eia, exitlosa 120

" The Borer 120

" Curculio 125

'' Rhynchoenns Nenuphar. .. .126

Indiana, Peaches in 21

, Introduction 9

! Kansas, Peaches in 22

Kentucky, Peaches in 21

Ladders 99

Logan's. Thomas, Orchard 69

lianurc in the Nursery 60

Markers 38

Marke t« Ill

Marking 64

Michigan, Peaches in 20

Missouri. Peaches m 22

Natural Fruit 82

Nectarine 12

New Enghind, Peaches in 24

New Jersey, Peaches in 18

Nursery Cultivation 4S

Cutting Back in the 68

* ' Preparation of Ground for 8T

" Pruning in the 61

" Tilhigeiuthe 60

" Siteof 29

Nursery Bows, Direction of 68

»' Markingof 64

Nursery Trees, Heeling-in (W

** Packing 66

'* ** Rubbing off Leaves 63

•4 u Takingup 63

Ohio, Peaches in 19

Orchard, Broken Limbs in 116

" Cropping an 79

" Cul&vatTonof 78

" Cutting-in 88

PertilSers for 117

" First Trimming of 78

** Height of Head in 81

" Hogsinthe 114

" NearWater 69

" Planting an 73

" Plowingjn the 88

*' Second Trimming of 80

'' Selecting a Site for. 68

" Shaped 71

" SoUfor. 70

" TimetoPlantan 77

Orders, how filled. 68

Packing Trees 65

Peach, Botanical History of the... 11

Peach Brandy 119

" inChina 16

" inEngland 16

Peach Culture in France 15

♦* in the United States 16

Peach-growing Regions 16

Peach-Mouse 146

Peach, Uses of the 118

Peach Wagon 107

Peach Tree, Duration of 18

" Native Country of..... 14

Peaches, Color of 159

inPots 153

Peninsula Fruit Growers' Associa-
tion 98

Picking. 102

*' Number of hands required for. 104

Pot Culture 168

Prematures 108

Preparation of Ground for Nursery 87

ftoflt H8

Pruning at Planting 76

Quilling 53

Returns 108

Ripeness, how told 105

Seed 81

Seed-bed 36

Seed, Characters of good 83

" Planting. 40

Shippers 100

Sti oping the Bud 53

Sukes for Marking 64

Stripper 61

Special Culture 188

'nUdng up and sending to Market. . 63
Tyer 51

191

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192

IKDEX.

Ties 60

Training, Bspalier 188

»• PaSa8h»pe 144

Transportation 9S

Tree-dlgij^nfc Plow 64

Twigs 47

Tying 58

Uses of the Peach 118

VarleUes 168

" Classiflcation of 158

'* Form of Trees in 160

Varieties for New York Market. . . .1ZS6
" Popolarity of DiiTerent. . . 160

New 164

Virginia, Peaches in 18-38

Wagons 107

White Peaches ...160-171

Yellow Peaches 159-180

Yellows 188

" Causeof. 183

" Kemediesfor 186

»* Symptomsof 136

INDEX TO VAEIETIES. (Synonyms in UaUet.)

Amsden-Alexander. 164

B«IU Bourn, ITJ

BtUsBeauU ITO

Blood CUngstone 189

Chinese Crooked. ....190

Chinese Plat 190

OoU'i WMU Mdoeoton 178

Crawford's Bariy 180

Orrnqfortrt jBktrhf Mdoeoim 180

Crawford's Late, 188

Orawford't LaU Melocoton .188

Crawford- 1 8vperb 1 82

CratmfnTi Superb MaHacatune 188

Doable Blossomed 189

Druid Hill 179

Earlu Crm'/ord 180

Early Louise 166

Wi^i/fjy, 172

FariM I'ftrplf 178

^iW^ Parptif Avant 173

Eariy Rareripe 178-176

Earlv Rivera 165

Earlii Vif^rt^ard 178

Earlj York 178

FimU^th 185

Foster,. 165

Fnsiiiom Uc4iih 178

OreenwoocTt Royol George 172

Griffith 188

Grosae Mignonnc 178

HcAms' Early Red 178

Heath 185

Heath Cling 185

Heath Omgetone 185

Hero qf Tippecanoe 187

Boggle Mdoooton 188

BoMetJohn 173

JohMon't Early PurpU 178

Kennedy^t Lemon ClingOone 186

Lady A nn Steward 178

Large Early York 173

Large French Mignorme 178

Large Bed Rareripe. 176

Largest Lemon 186

Large Yellow Rareripe 181

LaRoy(a 173

Lemon Cll ng 186

Lemon Clingetone 186

Livingston Rareripe 178

Long Yellow Pineapple 186

LordMontague 177

Lord Palmerston 165

Luscious WhUe Rareripe 178

Malaeatutne 188

Malagatune 188

Marie AnUAnetU 181

MelUsh IT?

Mignonns 173

Moore's Favorite 174

Morris' White 178

MorrW WhUe Freestone 178

MorrUr WfMe Rareripe 178

Mountain Bose 165

NeiTsEarly Purple 173

New Royal George 173

New York Rarer^ 178

Noblesse 177

Old lftoon'c^{0af9^.'! !!'.!!! !!'.!!! 175

Old Mixon Cling 186

ddJOacon CHr^stone 175-186

Old Mixon Free 175

Peen To 190

Pineapple CUngstone 186

Piquet^sLate 166

Princess of Wales 166

PurpleAvant 173

Bed Cheek 188

Red Cheek Meloeofon 183

Red Heath 186

Bed Bareripe 176

Beeves' Favorite 181

Beid's Weeping 190

Ronall^s Seedling Oalande 173

St, George 184

Serrate Early York 178

Smock 184

Snow 166

Steadly 166

Stump the World 177

Superb Royal. 173

Susquehanna 188

Swiss Mignonne 178

Tippecanoe 187

Troth's Early 171

Van Buren's Golden Dwarf 188

Vanguard 177

Veloutiede Merlet 178

Vlneuse 178

Vineuse de Fromentin 172

Walter's Early 173

Ward's Late 179

WMfe Meloooton 178

Yellow Melocoton 188

Yellow Bareripe 181

Ydlow PineappU 186

Waterloo 166

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