96 Appendix. 



Under proper management and intelligent pruning a peach tree can be 

 made a long-lived tree, and should, if properly pruned, be as healthy and 

 vigorous at ten years old as when a three-year-old. This condition can only 

 be had by annual pruning. The rule to follow in pruning the peach is: Al- 

 ways keeping in view symmetrical proportion and balance of the tree, cut 

 out half of all the annual growth of new wood, and of the balance of new 

 growth shorten in half. By following this method of pruning the peach 

 you will have pruned out three-fourths of the annual growth, and will have 

 thinned the fruit so that over-bearing will not occur, and you will have 

 stimulated the weak buds at the end of the base of the twig into growth 

 of new wood for next year's fruitage. By this method of pruning you 

 will have stimulated a healthy growth through all parts of the tree, shading 

 from the sun the larger limbs with a vigorous foliage that protects them 

 from sun-scald, which, if it occurs, always impairs the vigor of the tree. 



It frequently occurs that the cutting out of three-fourths of the annual 

 growth of the peach does not sufficiently thin the fruit to get the best results, 

 and hand-thinning must be resorted to. To grow large, fine peaches, too 

 many must not be allowed on the tree. If it takes five peaches to weigh 

 one pound, and by thinning you can make three of them weigh a pounu, 

 you have made money by investing in labor to do the thinning, for when you 

 come to gather and pack your peaches you will have saved two-fifths in 

 labor and have not lost anything in the number of pounds of peaches pro- 

 duced, and to the market value of your fruit three peaches that will weigh 

 a pound will sell for 50 per cent more than were they to run five to the 

 pound. It will not pay anyone to grow small, poor peaches. Choice peaches 

 always have a market demand at paying prices, and the rule that there is 

 never an over-production of the BEST of any commodity in the markets 

 holds good in peaches, as it does in all commercial commodities. 



PACKING. 



It would be childish to say that choice, fine peaches would sell for top 

 prices in our markets were they poorly packed. The peach-grower shouLl 

 see to it that hig pack is an honest pack. Peaches should be uniform in 

 size throughout the box, and anything over eighty to the box should never 

 be sent to market. Remember the size of your peaches at packing time isi 

 a question of detail with the grower. If intelligently pruned, thinned and 

 well cultivated on good soil, such peaches will run nearer forty-eight to the 

 box than a higher number. Peaches running forty-eight to the box talk for 

 themselves; the seller only has to pack them well and ship to market. 



SMUDGES FOE FEOSTS 



It is well known that the danger from frosts is greatest in mild climates, 

 in which "warm spells" are apt to occur, in late winter or early spring. 

 Many promising peach crops have been ruined through these frosts. Can a 

 peach crop be saved from spring frosts by smudges? Frosts occur on clear 

 nights. The earth's heat radiates rapidly on clear nights, With clouds or 

 fog present, this radiation is greatly checked. Smudge fires that will pro- 

 duce blankets of smoke over a peach orchard on frosty nights prevents 

 radiation, and unless an extreme freeze occurs a crop of peaches can be 

 saved by smudging. In 1887 the spring was frosty. By building smudge 

 fires on two frosty nights I saved the whole crop. That year I had the 

 only peaches in the county. For smudging that year I used pitch to start 

 the fires quickly, some dry oak to hold coals, and when well started, I 

 smothered the fire with coarse barnyard manure to cause a dense smoke. To 

 properly smudge against frost, the peach-grower should be prepared. His 

 materials should be ready and placed around and through the orchard, ready 

 for use during the danger period. On frosty nights the smudge fires should 



