STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 67 



the Western States, and our own Illinois stands in the front ranks as a grower of this 

 undisputed queen of the fruit kingdom. 



Witl* a favorable climate over a large portion of the State, a soil unsurpassed, the 

 flavor of our peaches is second to none, but Is unusually rich and delicious. 



The peach is easily propagated. The stone, or seed, if nut allowed to become too dry, 

 will grow as readily as a sound kernel of corn ; but if exposed to the sun and wind for 

 weeks before planting, they will lay two years before sprouting. 



On gathering the seed, let it be. spread on the ground, where (he water will not stand, 

 and covered with a few Inches of earth. In the spring, about the time the ground is in 

 good working order, tin- stones will be found mostly cracked and the germ just starting. 

 For nursery culture they should be planted in good soil, well prepared, in rows four feet 

 apart, and say four to six inches in the row; for garden culture the rows may be 

 much nearer ; cover one to two inches; cultivate well, and early in the following Sep- 

 tember the trees will ordinarily be found in good condition for budding. 



Early, the following spring, the stock should be headed back to within about three 

 inches of the bud. At the close of the season, in good soil, with good cultivation, these 

 buds will be found to have made a good and sufficient size for transplanting. 



Before transplanting, the soil of the whole plat of ground intended for your trees 

 should be ile. ply stiii-iil with plow or spade, say to the depth of twelve to fourteen 

 inches. 



I have found eighteen feet apart sufficient for the trees. In marking off my ground, I 

 prefer a chain, and use lath as the cheapest and best stake to mark the place where I 

 wish the tree to stand. I plant a little deeper than the tree stood in the nursery. I 

 would shorten in the tree on planting out, and in after pruning, use the knife with a 

 view to a round headed tree, with no forks, but the center of the tree open to the air and 

 sun, and trimmed up high enough to admit of plowing near the tree. Cultivation of 

 the soil [s essential to success in peach growing. Annual pruning and shortening in of 

 the limbs is all important to the health, long life of the tree, and the finest fruit. 



In order to succeed, peach trees must be planted on naturally dry, or artificially 

 drained soil. It w el feet does not cause the " yellows " in the peach, it is just as certain 

 to cause death, and my own opinion is that much of that peculiar sickly appearance no- 

 ticed among the peach trees, in certain localities, the past year may be found to have its 

 origin in Imperfect drainage. 



I prefer high rolling ground for a peach orchard and would never plant on the borders 

 of those, little ravines which are so common In the West. 



In planting for market we often err in planting too many varieties. In this latitude, 

 Hah'.- Early, Troth's Early, Cole's Early, Early York, Old Mixon Free ; Crawford's 

 Early, Stump the World, Crawford's Late, Morris White, Heath's Cling and Smock are 

 found desirable. Hale's Early rots to some extent, but not more than some other popu- 

 lar varieties. On account of its early ripening qnalities Ave are not disposed to dispense 

 with it. 



Thinning out the fruit when there is a full set, is of great importance. Let all imper- 

 fect, and the smallest fruit be taken from the tree, when not larger than a robin's egg, 

 leaving the peaches from five to ten inches apart, and here the knife as well as the fingers 

 may be used to g I advantage. 



But time will not permit me to continue the subject. Let me reiterate as the essentials 

 to successful peach culture ; deep and thorough pulverization of the soil, the selection of 



