1884.] PEACH EXPERIENCES. 17 



caused by fungi-bacteria, peach aphis, or whatsoever other cause, 

 so long as we fail to manage and control it. Like the potato fun- 

 gus it often first shows itself in a single spot, ofttimes a single 

 branch of a mature tree, and in due time the entire orchard is 

 involved in ruin. 



But shall we abandon growing the peach ? By no means. 

 While the pear blight, the yellows in the peach, cranberry worm, 

 and curculio, are to be regarded as calamities, yet there are com- 

 pensations in the better prices of the perfect fruit. Therefore 

 wisdom dictates to avoid, to compass, to overcome the difficulties,. 

 and secure the consequent reward. 

 Our conclusions are these: 



1st. Avoid any diseased or contaminated stock in propagation, 

 either by seed or bud, as promptly as you would avoid the virus 

 of scarlet fever or small pox. 



2d. Seek an orchard location apart from all these contaminat- 

 ing influences. 



3d. Fertilize by either well fined stable manures, or special 

 mineral fertilizers, in which sulphate of ammonia supplies nitrogen, 

 high grade rallriate the potash — with a good superphosphate. 



4th. Lest the land should contain acidity prejudicial to healthy 

 growth apply twenty bushels of lime, more or less, per acre, in 

 direct proportion to the humus in the soil, to sweeten and fine the 

 soil. 



Finally, secure uniform growth and uniform fruitage by judi- 

 cious, systematic management, never allowing an excessive late 

 autumn growth, or a breaking crop of fruit, or the intrusion of 

 the peach borer. 



Here let me call your attention to a tree which I bought many 

 years ago from the nursery of Mr. Alfred Whiting of West Hart- 

 ford. Here is a section of it, a Crawford's Late peach tree, twenty- 

 one years old — old enough to vote. It was on the farm of my 

 father-in-law, in Guilford. I procured the tree for him at the 

 time I purchased some for myself, and when I saw the log 

 at his wood pile, after a great many years of fruitage, I 

 said to him, " How old do you suppose that tree is ? " He 

 said, " Well, it may be a dozen years old." We are apt to 

 forget how fast time flies. l' sawed off a section of the trunk, 

 and upon counting the rings, I found it to be twenty-one years 



