132 FARMERS' INSTITUTES. 



of the same orchard, now seveu years old, yielded a larger income this last 

 fall (1885), even after the severities of the preceding winter. 



It is necessary to exercise care in beginning cultivation in the spring, so as 

 not to stimulate a too early start, and thus render the trees liable to be injured 

 by the spring frosts. It is also dangerous to continue the cultivation late in 

 the summer, and so induce a vigorous and long continued growth in the fall, 

 as the trees are much less liable to winter killing if the cultivation is stopped 

 in time for the wood to become thoroughly ripe and hard. During the months 

 of June and July the growth of the peach tree should be encouraged by fre- 

 quent and thorough cultivation, averaging at least, once a week. About the 

 first week in August the ground should be put in shape to remain through the 

 winter. It is a custom much practiced by some to sow rye or oats, or both mixed, 

 or clover seed in the orchard at the time of this last cultivation. This crop 

 growing up will form quite an effective trap to hold the leaves and snow, thus 

 forming a valuable mulch, while the rye or clover provides a good crop to plow 

 under in May. 



The limits of this paper forbid more than a reference to a few other promi- 

 nent jwints in connection with j^each culture. The first is in regard to curcu- 

 lio and rose bugs. These pests have been very injurious in many places and at 

 ■different times. The many remedies advocated are alike valueless, except as 

 they are persistently applied, so that here again it^;a?/.s to be thorough. " Early 

 to bed and early to rise " is an essential if one would eat peaches later in the 

 season. 



The next item is that of thinning. Frequently a tree will set three or four 

 iimes as many peaches as it is profitable for it to mature. In such a 

 ■case they should be carefully thinned by hand just as soon as the season 

 of curculio is over, generally about July first. It is best not to have them thick 

 enough on the twigs so that when grown to full size they will touch each other. 

 This will insure room to mature, and will also hinder the spread of the rot. 

 True it is that much work can be saved in this operatiou, by allowing the bugs 

 to do the thinning, but if left to them it will be painfully evident in the fall 

 that the thinning has extended to the pocket as well as to the trees. 



A word further concerning shippirg. The more care tliere is used in mar- 

 keting the crop the greater will be the profit. Now, more than at any previ- 

 ous time, particular, skillful work is needed, /or it pays. 



Careful, intdligent workinansliip in picking, packing and in all the han- 

 dling will 2>i'&vent losses, insure the highest prices and thus save the profits. 

 Strict honesty will also prove the best policy, even when there is great chance 

 for and temptation to cheat. As a rule, a good average standard package of 

 fruit will bring a good price and create a demand for more of the same kind. 



Not so much as many think is due to chance in peach cvilture. Thoroughness 

 tells, here no less then in general farming, and the maxim, '* What is worth 

 doing at all is worth doing well," is the only key to success. Good, common 

 sense, hard work, care, perseverance, honesty, — these are characteristics needed 

 by the fruit grower, which persisted in will win the victory — and the peaches. 



President Willits: I would like to know if peaches were killed here last 

 winter. The papers say with 28° they were not. 



Voice: Trees were not killed, though the fruit was. 



Prof. Bailey : Prof. Merritt sj^eaks from experience. I can only speak of 

 the prospects of peach culture in central Michigan. 



It has long been successful in the "fruit belt," but I believe it may be made 

 so in central Michigan. But for this certain conditions and experiments are 



