330 BOARD OF AGKTCULTURE. 



practice of nurserymen of cutting buds from nursery rows is bad for the 

 ultimate success of botli themselves and the grower. 



There is some good authority for the statement that trees bear earlier 

 when budded from bearing trees than from nursery rows, but on this 

 point I am ignorant and would gladly learn if any present have made any 

 investigation of that subject. I would consider this oi much less im- 

 portance, however, than the need of ti-ees that are true to name, and of 

 healthy origin. I have seen much loss to amateur growers by lack of 

 care on these points alone, but there are other errors to be avoided. 



The second part essential to success is: Proper location and soil. My 

 experience from boyhood has been limited, having had no practical knowl- 

 edge of peach growing except on the bluffs of the Ohio river, between 

 Madison, Ind., and Louisville, Ky., on lands overlying the cliff limestone. 

 Yet we know of successful orchards on the sandstone formation, of which 

 the noted Willey orchards of years past on the knobs near New Albany, 

 Ind., and the Freeman orchards of Brown county of today are examples. 

 There is also the extensive peach industry of Michigan on the low, sandy 

 ridges bordering the lakes, and of New Jersey on sandy plains but a few 

 feet above the level of the sea. These last named places could not possibly 

 be successful without the modifying influences of those large bodies of 

 water. I think that in neither of the last two named localities does the 

 fruit ever reach superior quality in point of richness of flavor that makes 

 a perfect peach. 



There has recently been enormous plantings on elevated parts of 

 Georgia which are very successful. But in no place have I ever known 

 of large successful orchards on rich alluvial lands, hence I would say 

 secure elevated location, with clay subsoil, naturally underdrained, and 

 comparatively worn lands, as new virgin soil, like rich alluvial lands, pro- 

 duce too vigorous growth of wood-making trees more susceptible to severe 

 cold and lessening both quantity and quality of fruit. 



The next thing necessary is proper cultivation, pruning and thinning. 

 In planting it is better to have soil broken and well prepared, but trees 

 can be planted in cross furrow and ground thrown back to trees with two- 

 horse plow, after which ground can be broken. It has been our practice 

 to plant on poor soil, sixteen and one-half feet apart each way, using 

 trees one year from bud, and trimming off all side branches and top, leav- 

 ing tree about three feet high, with three to five buds from which to make 

 top the following summer. 



There is no better way to cultivate a young orchard the first and sec- 

 ond year than to cultivate the land in corn. Afterward the land should 

 be broken early each spring and surface soil kept loose and mellow, and 

 free from weeds, even if it require a second or third plowing. I would 

 avoid plowing or stirring soil much after middle of July. On no account 

 ever sow small grain or grass in peach orchards. There is nothing that 

 I have knowledge of in fruit that responds as quickly to thorough cultl- 



