STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 63 



abler hands, together with its classification as to species and divisions, and those other 

 characteristics peculiar to the Peach Leaf, so interesting to the student in Horticulture, 

 and important in determining varieties. 



LOCATION. 



Orchard sites for the Peach should be selected with a view to their elevation, 

 and the readiness with which they will carry off the surface water. Orchards lo- 

 cated on high table lands, but in a basin or flat, which do not carry off the surface 

 Water, arc not much better situated than if planted in low bottom Lands. Borne of us 

 have paid dearly for our lack of forethought in this respect. The Importance of un- 

 derdrawing cannot be over-estimated, nor do I believe as Horticulturists, that we will 

 ever meet with that degree of success aimed at by all, until every rod of land devoted 

 to fruit orchards, shall be thoroughly underdralned. Especially is this the case in all 

 the Prairie fruit region north of the hill country in the southern end of the State ; the 

 character of the subsoil being of such a nature as to be almost impervious to water. 

 I therefore give it as my judgment after much and careful observation, other consider- 

 ations being favorable, that thorough draining is the condition of perfect success, and 

 that good surface draiuage is absolutely necessary to any degree of success whatever. 



PREPARATION OF SOIL. 



I will here give my own practice, which I will neither recommend as being the 

 best, nor the poorest that might be adopted, but which has been attended with very 

 good results. I prepare my grounds as you would your strawberry beds to the depth 

 of from tw r elve to fifteen inches, width of beds the same as the rows are designed 

 to be apart. This gives a deep clear up furrow between all the rows, and is done 

 witli a view of obtaining good surface drainage at the start, and which I endeavor to 

 maintain in all after culture. I am satisfied had I adopted this practice in the beginning 

 of my orchard planting in this state, my older orchards would, to-day, be worth a large 

 per cent, more than they are. I am no advocate of enriching the ground by manuring 

 for the peach on our already rich prairie soils. Indeed, my own observation Leads tue to 

 conclude that grounds somewhat exhausted by previous cropping are attended with the 

 best results. 



In regard to tree planting, it would seem a waste of time to give any directions. 

 When the ground has all been prepared the hole should be opened broad enough to re- 

 ceive the roots without cramping, and to the depth desired to set the tree. Set your 

 tree in a natural position, about one inch deeper than it set in the nursery, spreading out 

 the roots. 'Sift in fine dirt, shake the tree well, then till up the bole, pressing the soil 

 firmly about the tree, after which place two or three inches of loose dirt around the tree. 

 If it docs not grow, it will not be the fault of the planting. The practice recommended 

 by many of digging holes three <>r four feet deep in unprepared ground, without any 

 reference to the nature of the sub-oil, I regard as very pernicious. In open porous sub- 

 soils there can be no objection, as tin: roots find a ready outlet, but were the reverse is 

 the case it must he attended with bad results. I have removed trees 4 years planted 

 after this fashion, the roots of which seemed never to have got out of the cell Into which 

 they were imprisoned, but after replanting in broad holes (say from 4 to f> feet in diame- 

 ter), and to the depth of 3 or 4 inches below the main tap roots, became healthy, vigor- 

 ous trees. 



