POINTS IN profitable: PEAOH PRODUCTION. 



BY MR. FLOYD BARDEN, OF SOUTH HAVEN. 



The past history of the peach business in this state as well as in most 

 of the other peach growing sections in other states, proves that it wonld 

 be unsafe for any individual to class himself as an expert in peach pro- 

 duction. Although it seems to be possible to overcome all of the dis- 

 eases and insects to which the peach is susceptible, yet the unexpected in 

 temperature that is liable to bring havoc to the best of locations suggests 

 such a risk connected with the business that it would cause the so-called 

 expert to disown any previous knowledge that he might have claimed. 

 Peach growing has proven very profitable to many people, yet the num- 

 ber of tliose who have realized a profit is very insignificant when com- 

 pared with the total number who have at various times engaged in the 

 profession. Points of similarity caused a well known peach grower and 

 authority to liken the headlong rush of people, in any certain locality, 

 into the endeavor to produce peaches, to the similar rushes that have 

 been made at various periods when there has been a new discovery of 

 gold. Humanity seems to be as thoughtless in one case as the other 

 and the results are very similar. Yet there are some especial principles 

 which rightly followed will accomplish all that human endeavor is able 

 toward making the business profitable over a long period of time. 



Probably the point of greatest importance and surely the one to be 

 considered first is the location of the orchard. This includes the lay of 

 the land, the type of soil, the general adaptability of the land for peaches 

 and the distance from market. The distance from market does not re- 

 quire to be considered so seriously in this state as in some other sec- 

 tions of the country as markets are very near. However, the distance 

 from shipping point is to be considered although this becomes of small 

 importance if a particular site meets all of the other requirements of a 

 good location. The direction of slope is not so important as to make 

 sure that there is some slope. Air drainage is a prime essential to suc- 

 cess. Peaches seem to be grown successfully upon many types of soil but 

 I personally prefer a sandy loam that is rich in organic material. Too 

 much of the land which men are "endeavoring to utilize for peaches at 

 the present time is deficient in humus. The first orchard may have been 

 (juite profitable upon a particular site but as cover crops were neglected 

 the humus has been exhausted. Although a certain site may meet all 

 of the requirements still it is uncertain until it is tested. I know of 

 one parcel of land in particular that has been selected by experts as 

 an ideal location for peaches^ yet as a matter of fact an orchard was 

 planted here at one time and proved to be very unprofitable. Those sites 



