Summer Meeting. 65 



the United States, well adapted to peach growing, which it would be 

 folly to plant now, owing to lack of transportation. 



As some states are better adapted to peach growing than others, and 

 some sections of a state better adapted than other sections, so we find 

 some fields on the fruit farm better adapted to the peach than other 

 fields. The higher lands should be selected rather than the lower, and 

 generally a hillside with a northern exposure is better than one with a 

 southern exposure, as the northern exposure will retard the blooming- 

 period, so that the orchard escapes a late spring frost, while the reverse 

 is true of a southern exposure, the difference being some times as much 

 as one to two weeks. 



Having found a location and site, the next thing is the preparation 

 for planting. The ground should be plowed and cultivated as carefully 

 as for any grain crop. It should be cross-marked and the holes dug for 

 the trees about twenty feet apart each way, except on poor, thin soil, 

 where they can be planted eighteen feet apart. If different varieties 

 ar& planted, a map of the orchard showing the location of. the different 

 varieties should be made for future use. The ground, holes, and every- 

 thing connected with the planting should be ready when the trees are 

 received, so there will be no delay and consequent drying of the rbots 

 before planting. If it is necessary to plant on low, wet land, it should 

 be plowed in twenty-foot lands for several years, throwing the furrow ^ 

 toward the centre of each land, and the trees finally planted on these 

 ridges. 



The selection of trees is a matter of great importance. Large trees 

 are not always the best. The trunks should be well grown, straight and 

 smooth, and the roots abundant though not too long, and as little injured 

 as possible. The roots should not be pruned very close except to remove 

 all broken or bruised portions, and should not be twisted or cramped in 

 the holes. The trees should be planted just a little deeper than they 

 were in the nursery, as the loose dirt around them will settle about an 

 inch. The holes should be filled with fine mellow earth, well tramped 

 down. 



Peach trees generally do better on peach roots, but if the situation 

 is low and the soil holds much water, then plum roots may be substituted 



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