362 State Horticultural Society. 



well. The orchard referred to belongs to H. A. Aldrich, of Neoga, 111. 

 Hoping the Ozark people and country are prospering, I will close. — 

 A. C. Skinner, of Neoga, 111., in the Southwest. 



THE PEACH ORCHARD. 



The peach orchard, by J. M. Russell, developed the fact that in 

 twelve years they had raised eight crops. In the last twelve years the 

 crop has never been destroyed by weather subsequent to Jaunary 15. 

 That is, if the fruit buds safely reached the middle of January, they had 

 always raised a larger or smaller crop. Eor commercial orcharding Mr. 

 Russell prefers high land, and if desirable to have windbreaks, advised 

 to plant more rows of peach trees to act as such. Best varieties are: 

 Alexander, Early Rivers, Hale's Early, Russell's ISFo. 1, Coolridge Fa- 

 vorite, Champion, Crosby, Hill's Chili, Wager and Wright. He is 

 experimenting with Triumph, and hopes it will do well. He has not yet 

 tried Bokhara No. 3, but hears good reports of it. In discussing the 

 reasons why forty acres of six-year-old peach orchard gave no fruit and 

 an older orchard five miles south set a heavy crop, the thought was 

 brought out that heavy October rain prevented the ripening of wood and 

 fruit buds, rendering them susceptible to succeeding cold. Where Oc- 

 tober rainfall was light or absent peach trees ripened perfectly and set a 

 full crop. Peach wood and fruit buds should be perfectly ripened in 

 the fall of the year. — Orange Judd Farmer. 



MORRILL ON PEACH CULTURE. 



Roland Morrill describes his method of growing peaches in his suc- 

 cessful orchards at Benton Harbor, Mich., as follows: 



He cultivates the peach tree by pushing it ahead as rapidly as pos- 

 sible, fertilizing none until the bearing years have been reached. The 

 ground beneath the trees is cultivated by plow, harrow or weeder, as 

 often as from thirty-five to fifty times a season, the weeds are kept clear 

 and there is abundant opportunity for moisture. The consequence is 



