4:88 STATE POMOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



PEACH CULTURE. 



South Havejs-, May 4tb, 1874. 



The question for discussion and remarks last Monday evening was " Peach 

 Culture in all its Parts." 



E. J. Lockwood introduced the subject with a very truthful remark that the 

 more he studied peach culture the more he found he did not know, and wished 

 to ascertain as to the best method of pruning a peach tree before setting. 



H. Linderman said what information he could gain from observation led him 

 to believe that more top should be left on. Frequently trees with good rootg 

 were cut to a single cane, and he thought lost time in replacing the top. 



E. J. Lockwood thought we did not prune sufficiently when the trees were 

 young. 



C. T. Bryant said that it was advisable not to go to any extreme. If too 

 much top was left on the dry weather following would produce more evapora- 

 tion than the roots could sustain. In pruning bearing trees he would thin 

 out, leaving short limbs to cause them to thicken out; this gave a tendency to 

 check the too rapid flow of sap to the ends of the main limbs. If the trees 

 were old he Avould cut back to form a new top. In pruning he aims to cut 

 more on the north-east because there is the least sunlight on that side. 



George Bridges asked if it was best to leave any weak limbs, and answered it 

 by saying if they were on the decline why not cut them out ? 



L. H. Bailey remarked. Prune the trees while young to avoid the necessity 

 of removing large limbs when the tree became older. In cutting off large 

 limbs he found it checked the flow of sap up that side, to the injury of the 

 tree. He would urge more care in thinning the tree while young to avoid this 

 heavy thinning later. 



C. T. Bryant said he would leave short spurs on the main limbs and not re- 

 move them all at once, as they assisted in developing the limbs, making them 

 more stocky. 



A. J. Pierce said he would not advise heading back all the limbs as recom- 

 mended by some, as this filled the tree full of small limbs which would cause 

 some of them to die out, but he would cut back the leading long limbs and 

 thin out the small ones. 



A. T. Linderman would leave small spurs on the trunk of the tree, as it pro- 

 tected it from sun scald and blight. Would caution against pruning too early 

 in the season as it tended to produce water sprouts; would recommend leav- 

 ing on more top in setting out trees ; would urge buyers to get more root* 

 when purchasing trees. 



George Bridges asked if was not best to prune heavy early in the season t© 

 get the most new wood on old trees. 



A. T. Linderman would wait until the trees leaved out. Thought a good, 

 healthy growth in the main limbs better than superfluous water sprouts; 

 would avoid all extremes in pruning. 



L. H. Bailey would recommend leaving on more top and applying more 

 manure. 



The president appointed John Williams to attend the convention of fruit 

 shippers to be held at the Junction Wednesday, May 6th. 



