FORTY-THIRD ANNUAL REPORT. 87 



as the new trees do much better after the land has produced other 

 crops for two or three years. If the grower, however, is very anxious to 

 replace an orchard, as was the case with many after the freeze of 1906, 

 it certainly is worth the attempt. Under such circumstances, it may 

 be advisable to spend considerable money in order to gain a year or 

 possibl}' two, to secure a bearing orchard. 



Preparation of the Land for Orchard. — The peach tree, when given 

 an opportunity, is a vigorous grower and a heavy feeder. Thus, every 

 effort should be made to provide as favorable soil for the orchard as pos- 

 sible. One of the best plans is to secure a good clover sod upon the 

 land intended for the orchard site and if possible, cover this with stable 

 manure. This treatment should assure an ideal physical condition 

 of the soil for the orchard and also for any crop that may be grown 

 between the young trees. If there is a desire to save a year of waiting, 

 it may be advisable to plow five or six furrows through the field of 

 young clover. The trees are planted in this strip and may be easily cul- 

 tivated during the first year while the space between the rows is saved 

 to produce a better sod. Upon the lighter soils, winter vetch promises 

 to be a valuable plant to produce a crop to be plowed under before 

 planting to trees. In general, every effort should be made to utilize 

 material that will add humus to the soil, as most of the favorable peach 

 sites are lacking in this material at the present time. 



In case there are any wet spots in the field, they should be thoroughly 

 tile drained. Peach trees will not survive long in wet places. The land 

 should be plowed and fitted the same as if it were to be planted to 

 corn, as the peach tree demands the most favorable conditions for root 

 growth. 



Yarieties. — In the choice of varieties, the prospective grower should 

 be governed by several conditions such as : the market with which he 

 expects to deal, the orchard site, size of the orchard, ability to secure 

 labor, and the efficiency of handling facilities. Many markets discrimi- 

 nate against the white varieties and have certain varieties which they 

 especially prefer. Nearly all agree that the white varieties are the 

 more resistant to cold and diseases; but if one is to be handicapped in 

 . marketing, there is not much encouragement in planting them. The 

 Michigan grower must compete in the same markets with southern grown 

 peaches. Hence there is not much profit in planting the earlier varieties; 

 as they ripen at the same time with the best of the southern grown fruit. 

 When the competing crop is light, these varieties are profitable, but 

 when it is heavy, they will barely pay the expense of handling. 



A peach grower of some experience can, by a study of the orchard 

 site, be able to place trees of certain varieties where they will succeed 

 the best in relation to the soil and elevation. For example, the Gold 

 Drop and Lemon Free are very hardy and if a portion of the land is 

 so situated as to be possibly liable to frost injury, such varieties should 

 be set in these places. On the other hand, the Elberta is more tender 

 and should be favored with the best location. A study of the descrip- 

 tion of varieties and a comparison with the prospective site should 

 enable the prospective grower, even a beginner, to place them intel- 

 ligently. 



There are many orchards in this state in which the varieties are 

 so badly mixed and scattered that it is almost impossible to harvest 



