314 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



PICKING AND MARKETINCi THE FRUIT. 



If the heading-in process is followed syatetnatically every year, it will not be 

 necessary to thin the fruit much. It may, however, be considered as a rule that 

 every peach, to develop well, should have six inches of space, and where they still 

 crowd each other, thinning by hand when the fruit is about one-half inch in diam- 

 eter will pay well in the increased size and beauty of the fruit. 



PICKING AND PACKING FOR SHIPPING. 



The usual one-third bushel boxes are about the most convenient packages to 

 ship in. For distant shipping, the fruit should be fall grown and well colored, 

 but not soft. Grade your fruit well, packing none but large, fair specimens together. 

 If you think the medium size will pay to ship, pack them in separate boxes so that 

 all run even size. Pack carefully by hand in dry weather, and lay them in the 

 boxes, not throw or drop them, for the slightest bruise will show on the delicate 

 skin of the peach. Pack as closely as you can, to prevent shaking, rather pressing 

 the lid down in nailing, as they will open better with a few slight bruises by press- 

 ing on the upper ones than if all can move or shake. They should then at once be 

 hauled in a spring w^agon to the depot or express office and shipped immediately. 

 Kemember always that the price you obtain will mostly depend upon the quality 

 and perfect condition iu which your fruit will reach the market for which it i& 

 intended, and that you cannot be too careful in handling and assorting it. 



FOR HOMK MARKETS. 



These are always the best, if a sufficient quantity can be disposed of. For 

 marketing immediately, the fruit can be riper than for shipping, though it should 

 not be too soft. The best criterion is the color; if the green has disappeared, and 

 the" creamy white color takes its place, the peach is ripe enough to market ; handle 

 just as before stated, and place in wide shallow boxes or baskets ; if a few leavea 

 are scattered between each layer, they will keep the fruit from touching and bruis- 

 ing, and will also make it look more attractive by the contrast of green with the 

 color of the fruit. Careful grading is also of great importance, and under no con- 

 sideration should the small, imperfect fruit be marketed, either at home or abroad. 

 A few scrubby, imperfect specimens are enough to spoil the sale of a whole box. 



FOR HOME CONSUMPTION. 



As a home luxury, as an article of daily use, the peach is a favorite with 

 almost every one. To be enjoyed and appreciated fully, it should ripen perfectly on 

 the tree, and as no one can fully appreciate a really good peach who has not picked 

 it fresh from the tree itself, every one who calls but a few rods of ground his own 

 should plant a few peach trees, while there is no excuse whatever for the farmer 

 who has abundant room, if he does not plant enough to give his family all they 

 want, with some to spare for his friends, • 



A word in conclusion about the adaptability of this section to peach-growing. 

 As long as 1 have lived in Pettis county, since the spring of 1872, in six seasons 

 we have had but one entire failure of the peach crop. This was in 1873, after the 

 severe winter of 1872-73. We have had three very abundant crops, in 1872, 1874 

 and 1877, while there was about one-third of a crop generally in 1875 and 1876. 

 Taking this as an average, it gives us three full crops and two partial crops in six 

 seasons, certainly not bad compared with other sections of the State. As to the 

 quality of the fruit, I will here say, without fear of successful contradiction, that I 

 liave never seen, nor ever expect to see, finer specimens of their respective kinds 



