INDIANA HOETICULTURAL SOCIETY. 521 



I think that peach trees should be a year old before planting to the 

 orchard, and that June buds are undesirable, as they have to grow a year 

 in the orchard before they obtain tlie size and vigor of the yearling nur- 

 sery stock. 



Not reflecting upon the nurseryman's business, but his work ends with 

 the growing of the young tree, and the tree which makes the straightest, 

 most rapid growth is the one which usually finds ready sale. Stock should 

 be purchased only from reliable niu-serymen, and preferably from the sec- 

 tion in which the orchard is to be planted. 



Growers should be taught that varieties of fruit trees are as different 

 and distinct in habit of growth as they are in form and quality of fruit, 

 and that a lirst-class tree is a well-grown specimen, possessing all the 

 characteristics of its variety. 



A thorough preparation of the soil should take place. I advocate deep 

 plowing in the fall, and early and tliorough cultivation throughout the 

 season. I advocate fall planting. The roots become well established. I 

 would recommend about one hundred trees to the acre. 



Prepare the trees for planting by cutting back the short roots and 

 heading the tree low. I would advise that the tree be placed in the soil 

 with the stem leaning a little to the southwest, so that the top will subse- 

 quently form a protection from the afternoon sun. 



If the trees are allowed to grow tall, the fruit is hard to gather. It is 

 diftlcult to spray. 



The trees that are i>raued back are liked best, because it pays best. 

 The head of the peach tree should be kept open, the branches evenly dis- 

 tributed and the previous year's growth cut back from one-half to two- 

 thirds. 



There are three essentials to growth, air, heat and moisture. Keeping 

 the ground stirred as long as possible lets in the air and heat, and at the 

 same time prevents the escape of moisture from below. Level, shallow 

 and tliorough cultivation should be followed throughout the season. 



When the rrees become too large to allow plowing a hand hoe should 

 be employed. If possible, let no vegetation grow under the trees during 

 the fruiting season. 



Aboui. the last of April or first of May I hill up each tree about eight 

 or ten inches, and uncover a while before freezing. This generally kills 

 all insects deposited. Profitable results are obtained in thinning peaches 

 from four to six inches. 



The prevailing idea is to groAV as small a number of peaches on little 

 trees, rather than a great number of little peaches on big trees. 



I am fully convinced that we must use the sprayer, and as this subject, 

 I presume, follows, I close. 



Chairman Latta: There Is another subject to be taken up, "The Ques- 

 tion of Orchard Enemies and How to Combat Them." Professor Troop, 

 let us hear from yoii on 



