366 BuivLETIN 74. 



base by Dr. E. F. Smith when studj'ing the relation of fertility 

 to peach yellows. The effect of the fertilizers upon the trees was 

 incidental to the subject in hand, but the record* of the investiga- 

 tion is valuable to those who are interested in fertilizing peach 

 lands, as well as those who are studying the yellows. It was 

 found that the nitrogenous manures produce quick results, whilst 

 the potassium and phosphorous generally show their eflfects mo:e 

 plainly the second or third years. The following citation will 

 show the effect of a nitrogenous fertilizer in stimulating growth 

 and delaying maturity : 



Eighty-four trees received Peruvian guano at the rate of 12 lbs. 

 per tree on April 25, 2889. On August 22, 1889, the trees were 

 found to have " made a most astonishing growth. * * The 

 maturity of the season's growth has been retarded and the energy 

 of the trees has gone to the production of an excessive amount of 

 wood and foliage. The latter is now so abundant and so green 

 that the block can be distinguished readily one-half mile away. 



* * Some of the trees bore a few peaches, and the effect of 

 the guano was to retard maturity. The fruit was also inferior, 

 and some of it withered green instead of ripening, a fact never 

 before observed in this orchard." 



Prujiing peach trees. — The methods of pruning peach trees are 

 the occasion of much discussion amongst pomologists. The dif- 

 fencesof opinion turn chiefly about three practices, — short trunks 

 with rapidly ascending branches, high trunks with more horizon- 

 tal branches, and shortening in or heading back the annual growth. 

 Each of these three methods of handling or training peach trees 

 has ardent advocates and pronounced opponents. It is probable 

 that each system has distinct merits for particular cases. I believe 

 that the nature and fertility of the soil are the dominating factors 

 in these opposing methods. A system of pruning which fits the 

 slow growth and hard wood of sandy soils may not be adapted to 

 the rapid growth and heavier tops of trees on strong soils- Fig. 

 I shows what I believe to be, in general, the best method of 

 pruning peach trees upon sandy or what may be called peach 

 soils. It is the natural method. The tree is allowed to spread 



* Experiments with Fertilizers for the Prevention and Cure of Peach Yel- 

 lows. Bull. 4, Div. Veg. Pathology, Dept. Agric. 



