Slimmer Meeting. 119 



"■b 



Elbertas I cut back some are living and some are not. I noticed an- 

 other thing. Those that were planted on low ground were killed, while 

 those on high ground were not. But I want to say that the Sneed 

 stood it fine. I have a fine stand of them, the finest I ever saw of any 

 peach. 



Mr. Erwin. — I believe that the ground has something to do with the 

 life of the tree. I had 1,000 trees of 4 and 5 years of age. On the south 

 slope, when you would cut in the limbs of the trees, you would find that 

 they were dead ; on the north slope the trees all lived and they w-ere of 

 the same varieties as those on the south slope. I also found that there 

 was a great deal more damage done with trees that stood about 50 feet 

 above the level of the river than those on a high ridge. I did not lose 

 any trees at all there in trimming, however, I did not trim as much as I 

 did on the low ground. 



]^[r. Evans. — I want to say a word for the benefit of those who might 

 intend to plant a commercial orchard. A great many varieties have been 

 named here. Now, there are a great many people who do not know one 

 variety from another. We never know anything until we learn. But 

 I want to say there is not a peach that I have not tested that has been men- 

 tioned here. Susquehanna, AMieatland, ^Matthew's Beauty, Early Craw- 

 ford and a number of others that I might name. All these are safe to 

 plant in commercial orchards, but some are inclined to be shy bearers. 

 The list that you w'ant is the list to make money out of. We have been 

 pleased when we have a list that runs from July to October. That list 

 will also make a good family orchard. We have nearly all varieties ; 

 they are nice to have. We have some Susquehanna now^ and they are 

 'looking nicely. 



]^Ir. Lamm of Sedalia. — How do you trim your peach trees, Mr. 

 Evans? Open head? My instructions have always been to keep them 

 l^ack. Now, what head is the best? 



?\Ir.Evans. — I did not rise to say a word about pruning. But I will 

 say this : For three days after the snap of '99, I was confined to my room, 

 but I at once began to write out to agricultural and fruit papers and give 

 the people instructions about their peach trees. I knew what had hap- 

 pened. And I want to say right here that I will not take back a single 

 word that I said then. I believe you should begin to trim your trees when 

 you plant them. Make whips and not more than two feet high. Don't 

 plant too big. Cut them back to about 2 feet and make whips of them. 

 Cut from 1-3 to 1-2 of the third year back. Whatever you do, keep them 

 tlown. Head" them back. Keep them so you can stand on the ground and 

 pick your peaches from the trees. 



(Remarks from Dr. Green from Chillicothe about mulching and 



