64 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS 



CULTIVATION. 



There can be but one opinion in reference to the importance of thorough cultiva- 

 tion up to a period of four years. After this time much diversity of opinion exists, 

 6ome recommending a continuation of the practice, others partial cultivation, and still 

 others none at all. I have given each of these methods a fair trial, and am satisfied 

 with none, but good clean cultivation throughout the season of natural growth. Fre- 

 quent stirring of the soil to the depth of 3 or 4 inches (and I would not advise a greater 

 depth) keeps up the vigor of the tree, delays the formation of fruit buds, until the 

 proper season arrives, and acts to some extent as an insurance on the crop for the suc- 

 ceeding year. 



In the section from which I write (Southern Illinois), scarcely a season passes without 

 our being visited by severe drouths in the months of August and September. Unculti- 

 vated orchards are at once checked in their growth, premature formation of fruit buds 

 follows, with the falling of the leaves; these drouths are followed by copious rains and 

 pleasant weather. The result is the swelling of the fruit buds, and hence by failing to 

 cultivate, we simply in this case offer a premium for the destruction of our fruit crop to 

 the winter cold. My chief objection to the second practice, which I have termed partial 

 cultivation, reference being had to the system almost universally adopted, of cultivating 

 in the early part of the season. While this is very far in advance of no cultivation, yet I 

 feel that it is subject to very much the same objections only not to the same extent. 

 Careful cultivation secures to us, trees of good constitution, full of life and vigor, while 

 the fruit buds will inherit the same vigor, and both are better prepared to withstand the 

 attacks of their enemies, whether they come from disease, summer drouth, winter blast, 

 or from the more peurile, yet none the less destructive enemy, insects. 



PRUNING. 



Various modes are practiced, most of which have their merits when carefully car- 

 ried out. As to the amount of pruning to be done, I believe the richness of the soil 

 should determine. On poor land much benefit is derived from frequent heading in, 

 judiciously performed, attended with careful thiniug out, to avoid too much compact- 

 ness, light and air being as important to the full development of the fruit as a healthy 

 tree. An increased amount of wood growth being the object had in view, we attain by 

 this practice, without any danger to our fruit crop. On rich soils I believe the practice 

 to be injurious, rendering our fruit prospects very uncertain, and even, endangering the 

 life of the tree itself. It induces an unnatural growth of wood, which exposes the tree 

 to destruction by our open and changeable winters, attended as they are by freqent in- 

 tense cold. This rapid wood growth is unfavorable to the formation of fruit buds, and 

 even after passing through the winter unscathed, frequently destroys its own fruit, 

 throwing it off by the force of its own too rapid growth. What I have written refers to 

 trees after arriving at maturity. My own practice has been to head in about once in 

 three or four years, following, if possible, seasons of fruitfulness, when the trees are in a 

 more or less exhausted condition, and when thus done has always been attended with 

 the happiest results. I must say a word here about high and low headed trees. As a 

 people, we are very much given to running into extremes, and I am satisfied that in the 

 matter of high and low tops we will find no exception to the rule. From tops so high 

 that wc had to jump to reach the lower limbs, we now, some of us at least, have to dig 

 to find them. If ever I am permitted to plant another Peach orchard, I will endeavor to 



