10 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



How shall I trim young peach trees? 



Mr. Sessions: I wish for a good, thrifty tree, with good roots, the top 

 being not so much concern. Low heads to fruit trees of all kinds are 

 desirable for many reasons. Cut so that the young tree will stand from 

 2^ to 3 feet above the ground; trim off all branches close to the axillary 

 buds. Allow the formation of no crotches and let the first branches be 

 about two feet from the ground. Eight or ten branches may be left for 

 the head of the tree. Trim the trees the next spring; though sometimes 

 it is well to pinch back rank growth in summer. Remove one third of 

 the first season's growth. Some do this work as early as March, but it 

 is better to wait until severe weather is past. Cut back the longer 

 branches furtherest, so as to make a well-balanced head. This sort of 

 trimming must be kept up to the end, to keep a comjaact, low head, yet 

 opened enough to admit the sunlight and air. 



Mr. Lyon agreed to this in the main, but would use oidy three or four 

 side branches and a central one to build a top upon. 



What kinds of peach are best adapted to Mason county? 



Mr. McClatchie: The early sorts are all about alike and none 

 are very good. Waterloo is here preferred as the hardiest; next, Rivers, 

 a not very good shipper; then Hale's. I am at a loss to know what to set 

 for the next in order of ripening. Crane's is recommended. Early Craw- 

 ford is good, of course, excejot that it bears freakishly, only when there is 

 an abundance of other sorts. Barnard, Jacques, Snow's Orange, Chili, 

 are all good, but the latter will bear more per acre than any other sort. 

 Wagar is well liked, being better and earlier than Chili. It never fails to 

 ripen. Smock ripens occasionally in favorable situations. Chili should 

 not be set on light soil nor on heavy clay. 



Mr. Sessions: I would add Stump and Oldmixon, and to a limited 

 extent Mountain Rose, though not a good shipper. We object to Wagar, 

 in Oceana county, on account of its size, it being smaller than Chili. I 

 have made more money from Hale's than any other. A few Alexander or 

 Waterloo are well to have to fill out the season. They bring a fair price. 

 I have a peach called Early Canada which I think as well of as any. 

 Early Crawford and Barnard come at the season of gluts, when prices are 

 low, and so I would plant but few of them. 



Mr. MoEEiLL: If I wished to give my crop a bad start in the market I 

 would send such peaches as Amsden and Alexander and such grapes as 

 Champion. They will ruin you if you j)ut your name upon the packages. 



Mr. Lyon: Some do not care to .plant wholly for the market, desiring 

 fruit for home use as well. Those who do will take none of these. Another 

 class of peaches, better in quality though smaller or less hardy, are the 

 Rivers, Louise, George IV, Coolidge's Favorite, Susquehanna (when you 

 can get it), and others. 



Mr. McClatchie: I would add Wagar to this for quality. 



Mr. J. Fitch of Ludington: Wagar is of excellent quality and espe- 

 cially so when canned. 



Mr. Lyon: Wagar is reckoned a market peach and valuable because of 

 reproducing itself from its pits. 



When is the best time to trim trees, and how? 



Mr. Lyon: There are different practices with different fruits; but cut 

 no branches unless necessary, after growth has begun. Yet summer prun- 

 ing conduces to fruitfulness. Otherwise do the work before the sap 



