PRUNING PEACH TREES. 



ADDRESS BY A. S. DYCKMAN, BEFORE THE MICHiaAN STATE POMOLOG- 

 ICAL SOCIETY AT LANSING, FEBRUARY 9, 1875. 



Mr. President — At the meeting of our Society at Adrian, last June, in 

 giving some notes on the subject of Michigan peach culture, allusion was 

 made to the system of pruning observed in our practice for many years. 



As the views there enunciated were opposed to very high authority, with 

 which, in one instance, our Secretary, in his report, did us the honor to collate 

 them ; and as, very naturally, they have been the subject of criticism among 

 our fruit growers, we are glad of the opportunity your invitation gives to pre- 

 sent a more detailed account of our theory and practice. 



Mr. Downing undoubtedly considered the peach tree the best illustration of 

 the benefits of the "shortening 171" system of pruning, for in the chapter on 

 peaches and in relation to peach culture his very able argument is presented. 



This brings us, then, in direct issue with the acknowledged best authority 

 in this country. 



Mr. Downing's definition of " shorteni?ig 171" is: "The cutting off half ihs 

 last yearns growth over the whole outside of the head of the tree, and also upon 

 the inner branches." 



He gives as the result of this practice, "a thich, low, bushy head, filled witk 

 healthy young wood, and, in the summer, with an abundance of dark green, 

 healthy foliage, and handsome fruit." 



To one who, like Mr. Downing, had been utterly disgusted with the neg- 

 lected, scurvy, moss-grown, bare, bark-bound, sprawling branches of peach- 

 trees, struggling for mere existence, and hiding in fence corners only to make 

 their deformity more apparent, it would not be strange if he should fall into 

 an opposite error, and take as his ideal of perfection a " thick bushy head." 



We presume no practical peach grower will deny that the eflfect of a 

 "thick bushy head" is to induce mildew and rot, and deprive the fruit of 

 color and quality, to which the air and sunlight are so indispensable. 



It is not difficult to observe these effects in varieties predisposed to rot, — like 

 the Hale's Early and Michigan Yellow Eareripe. 



Perhaps some may acknowledge that this, as presented by Mr. Downing, is 

 not the correct ideal of a perfect peach tree, and still hold we may have a tine 

 open top consistent with the " shorteyiing in" process. 



Then, we answer, you must procure it at no " little cost." 



