MICHIGAN EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETINS. 



PEACH AND PLUM CULTUEE IN MICHIGAN. 



BY L. K. TAFT. 



Bulletin No. 103. — Horticultural Department. 



INTRODUCTION. 



The importance of peach and plum growing as productive industries is 

 but slightly appreciated, except by those persons who have visited the large 

 commercial orchards in the fruitgrowing sections, during the shipping 

 season. During the past two or three years the crops have been so remu- 

 nerative that the acreage has largely increased, and many persons have 

 engaged in growing these fruits who have had little or no experience. In 

 order to handle their orchards successfully they have endeavored to inform 

 themselves as to the best methods to pursue and, as one source of informa- 

 tion, this station has received numerous letters asking about the best loca- 

 tions and exposures for peach-growing, the methods and time for pruning, 

 the best soil and fertilizers, the varieties to plant, and the methods of com- 

 batting the various insects and diseases. 



Appreciating the importance of these crops, and the necessity for accu- 

 rate information as to the proper way to handle them, the following bul- 

 letin has been prepared. In the few pages that we shall devote to the 

 subject, it is our aim to take up such topics relating to the cultivation of 

 these fruits as seem of most importance, and regarding which the most 

 inquiries have been received. 



As is well known, it will be difficult to find two fruitgrowers who can 

 agree upon all matters of planting, pruning, cultivation, etc., and it can 

 not be expected that every one will coincide with the methods of procedure 

 here recommended. It must be understood that the character of the soil, 

 of the season, the variety, or the surroundings, will exert such an influence 

 that what may be a proper method of handling an orchard at one time or 

 place, may be unwise at another. On the other hand, while, under average 

 favorable conditions, some particular distance of planting, height of head^ 

 and method and time of pruning will give best results, a slight deviation 



