218 ANNUAL REPORT OP THE Off. Doc. 



the land is clear than at any future time after the trees are 

 planted. This can be done better by plowing under a good stiff 

 sod a crop of cowpeas, crimson clover, or some other crop that 

 will put the necessary humus in the soil. Should the land be too 

 steep or rocky to plow, then large holes should be dug, plenty of 

 inorganic fertilizer applied, and after the trees are planted they 

 should be heavily mulched with straw, spoiled hay, weeds, grass, 

 or any other waste material that will aid in retaining moisture 

 and keep the soil loose. 



AGE OF TREES TO PLANT. 



One year is the limit; strong healthy trees, four to six feet high. 

 Do not be tempted to take June buds, or two-year-old trees at any 

 price. I would not take them as a gift. The best is none too 

 good. It is the foundation of our future hopes, one of the essen- 

 tials of success. 



PRUNING. 



Everyone ha's their ideal. Some prefer a low bushy tree; some 

 want a vase form; others want a tree with a long trunk, that a 

 horse can walk under the limbs in cultivation, raising their fruit 

 on the second story, claiming it will ripen the fruit better. I prefer 

 coming in on the ground floor. 



Strangers visiting the Paragon Orchards are surprised at the 

 extreme low heads on all the trees. Trees coming five years old 

 have a top diameter of fifteen feet or more and the lower limbs 

 starting not over one foot from the ground, and running out hori- 

 zontally, with their tips touching the ground, instead of vertically, 

 as we see them in other orchards. These lower limbs, after having 

 produced three heavy crops during their short lives, are again 

 this season (1907) laden with a good set of fruit. These trees are 

 so low that all the fruit can be picked from a five-foot step ladder; 

 nine-tenths of the entire crop can be picked while standing on the 

 ground; fully one-third of the crop is borne on limbs that rest 

 their tips on the ground. Many people argue that fruit borne on 

 these bottom limbs will not mature, will lack color and flavor, 

 but this is a mistaken idea. The fruit on these lower limbs acquire 

 a finer color and higher flavor than most peaches in other orchards 

 under different management. This orchard is a model of beauty; 

 trees low, spreading, symetrical in form, with open heads; fruit 

 being borne in the center as well as on the outside of the trees; 

 there is no part of the tree that does not sometime during the day 

 get sufficient sunshine to prevent the development of fungi, and 

 at the same time develop and mature the fruit to the highest state 

 of perfection. 



Before giving my method I will give my reasons for pruning: 



1. Removing the parts of the tree not wanted improves the parts 

 remaining by the distribution of more nourishment to the remain- 

 ing parts. In nature there is always a struggle, the weak must 

 succumb to the strong; without pruning the limbs having the best 

 positions thrive at the expense of the others. This can be avoided 

 by proper pruning, and any desired form given. 



Pruning should be done annually, so as to avoid removing large 

 limbs, which is always more or less injurious. By judicious prun- 

 ing a tree can be kept in bearing indefinitely, as new bearing wood 



