18 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Jan., 



pld. It is a beautiful illustration of steady, uniform growth. 

 That tree gave many crops of choice fruit. It was not a seedling. 

 And, by-the-way, the Crawford's Late has a uniform habit of bear- 

 ing, where it is properly treated, that makes it very desirable on that 

 account. There was, as you see, a fault in the management of that 

 tree. There was a branch that grew too near the ground, it received 

 some injury, and had to be sawed off, and that side of the tree is 

 considerably affected. I have no doubt that materially shortened 

 the life of the tree. The other side is entirely sound, and up to 

 ten years of age, the annual growth was very uniform, and from 

 that up to twenty, or until nearly the last of its life, there was a 

 steady, uniform growth, and, as a rule, uniform fruitage. If we 

 could always be sure of as good results as that tree gave, it would 

 be very encouraging to plant the peach. 

 A few words in regard to varieties: 



The early varieties of peaches, while quite beautiful, are less 

 profitable than medium and later ones. The Early York is fairly 

 superseded by the Mountain Rose, which is just as good, more free 

 • at the stone, and more productive. The Oldmixon Free is a grand 

 peach in every respect; so is the Stump the World. Crawford's 

 Early is a fine peach; beautiful, large, productive, excellent, is quite 

 apt to overbear, and fail in consequence. The Richmond and 

 Foster are much of the same type. Crav/ford's Late may almost 

 be called the king of peaches for our latitude. It brings high 

 prices, and has a good habit of bearing about right in good sea- 

 sons. The Steadley, Salway, and Smock, are too late to be sure 

 of ripening in our climate, though we have found they may be 

 picked while hard, and if well grown they ripen up better than 

 might be expected. When we find our Salways likely to be frozen 

 it is better to pick even while hard, and keep in close boxes in a 

 moderate temperature till they mellow than to risk freezing. 



Again, if very late varieties are planted give a southern expos- 

 ure, as you would the Catawba grape, for, on a northern slope, 

 when we have cool nights, the ripening process goes on very slowly 

 indeed, temperature having much to do with tardy or rapid ripen- 

 ing. 



No fruit responds so quickly to either good or bad management 

 as the peach; hence the importance of giving just the right man- 

 agement, and to neither overdo nor neglect. 



