PROCEEDINGS OF THE WINTER MEETING. 23 



it is similar and much more hardy although not quite so large. Were 

 Crawfords reliable, I would plant very largely of them. 



PEUNING. 



This should be done annually. We usually do it the last of March or 

 first of April. Care should be taken that no crotches are allowed to form, 

 as they are about sure to split down with the first heavy crop. 



THINNING. 



Too much stress can not be placed on this, both as a matter of economy 

 and profit, for it certainly does not take nearly the time to pick off the 

 small green peaches, and drop them on the ground, that it does to handle 

 the same peaches when ripe and only half size. 



Quality is everything in a peach, and this can never be secured when 

 the tree is greatly overloaded. The temptation is very great, and espe- 

 cially to the new beginner, to want to see his young trees loaded full. But 

 for the good of the tree, if nothing more, thin out so no two peaches will 

 be nearer than six inches. 



MAEKETING. 



Out of the large crop of one year ago last season, or of the lighter crop 

 of last season, we did not ship a bushel of first-class peaches to the great 

 market, Chicago. Nothing went there from our crop except the culls. 

 The commission man will not discriminate between No. 1 and culls in his 

 returns. 



My best fruit is used in filling orders on which I make the price. Now, 

 I do not suppose every fruitgrower can do this from the start, but I am 

 satisfied that all who will be careful in their packing, to have every 

 package just what it purports to be, will very soon have a demand for all 

 the choice fruit he can grow. At least, I have found it so, and I have 

 been in the business for over twenty years; and every year I find myself 

 less able to fill all the orders I receive. But I can say this to any grower, 

 it will require personal vigilance to accomplish this end. 



THE CUECULIO. 



The following has been my mode of fighting the curculio for the past 

 ten years, which has proved very satisfactory:' I use fresh stone lime. 

 Put one bushel in a box, sprinkle on about one third pint of crude carbolic 

 acid, then throw on just water enough to slake the lime so it will be 

 perfectly dry dust. A little practice will teach you the amount of water. 

 It should stand about twenty-four hours to become thoroughly slaked. 

 As soon as the blossoms fall, this is thrown into the trees with a paddle 

 (made of a shingle), in the morning while the dew is on the foliage, and 

 after it has dried it will stay on through quite a hard rain but should be 

 repeated as often as washed off, until the fruit is two thirds grown. I 

 have imagined that the lime and acid were worth all they cost, to the trees in 

 keeping off all other insects and fungi, even if it had no effect on the 

 curculio, as I know fruit so treated was less liable to decay. 



