STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 1 3 



when better understood. It should be grown as a bush, not with a 

 trunk. 



The Peach, in the south half of the State at least, is sufficiently hardy 

 to be cultivated with moderate profit in many localities, and in some 

 places large i-eturns may be realized. This fruit, which is referred to by 

 Confucius, and even, sa}s De Candolle, mentioned as early as the tenth 

 century before Christ, is believed by later authors to be a modified form 

 of the almond. For growing the peach the most favorable points should 

 be selected ; such as the heights of the blufls along our great rivers, the 

 tops of the hills along the Grand Chain, the mounds about Pana, and 

 other elevated points. The varieties having large blossoms, I may add, 

 seem to be almost invariably the hardiest; either the large petal forms a 

 more complete protection, or is evidence of greater vitality. The foct 

 of the large blossom, I suppose, accounts for the superior hardiness of 

 seedling trees, and it is probable that a selection of the improved varie- 

 ties with large blossoms would give good results and be worth trying on 

 the northern limits of the fruit region. Downing names over thirty 

 such varieties, besides the serrate kinds. 



The Cherry, in one or more of its varieties, is grown throughout the 

 State, and occasionally with considerable profit. The hardy varieties of 

 Early Richmond and Common Morello may be grown almost any- 

 where and under great neglect, though I have seen few fruits more 

 improved by manure than the Early Richmond. The sweet cherries can 

 be grown in many localities where the subsoil is open and tlie upper soil 

 not too rich. But the cherry, I apprehend, needs a cooler summer than 

 ours for the best results, and the buds of the sweet cherry are often 

 nipped by the frost. Picking the cherry is a practical difficulty to be 

 considered in estimating its profits. 



The Plum, in spite of the commendations of our State Horticulturist, 

 I find quite tender in the bud, except in the Chickasaw, from whose 

 varieties I expect our best and most complete success in plum growing, 

 just as we have found to be the case with native rather than foreign 

 grapes. 



The Apricot and the Nectarine are of so little general interest that I 

 pass them over. 



One word, however, as to a general principle in pruning, ajjplicable 

 to a greater or less extent, I believe, to fruit trees in all parts of our 

 State. I put it in the language of P. J. Berckmans, of Augusta, 

 Georgia : , 



"The pyramidal form is the only one fitted for a young tree and for 

 all climates. The old habit of pruning trees so as to give them a round 

 and spreading head is very defective, and all rational cultivators condemn 

 it. By pruning a tree in pyramidal shape, we have — ist. It covers and 

 protects the bark all over the body; 2d. It gives strength to tlie tree by 

 a regular distribution of the sap; 3d. The fruit is equally divided, and 

 its weight being equal, the tree will not incline towards the heaviest side, 

 as in badly trained trees; 4th. The renewing of the wood is done 

 without being obliged to cut away half the tree, as is often tlie case, 



