184 Sfafc Horficiilfiiral Society. 



stands, if only from observation, the natural growth of trees, can set a 

 peach tree and give it the proper cultivation and care to cause it to grow 

 and produce fruit. And that is the extent of knowledge with which 

 many of our growers set their first orchard. What we have learned 

 since is by actual experiment and practical work. 



I will state briefly how my brothers and myself start a new orchard. 

 We prefer ground that has been cultivated two to four years. If new 

 ground is to be used, after clearing the timber we break and cross break 

 with double team, using a bull-tongue and colter. This is a slow process, 

 but does the work and does it better in our rough country, according 

 to our judgment, than anything we have tried or seen tried in our part 

 of the State. We grow our own trees and began by setting them in the 

 orchard 16 feet apart, increased that to 17 feet and again to 18 feet, and 

 will in the future set 20 feet each way- We use a pick-mattock for set- 

 ting the trees and dig the hole and plant the tree at the same time. In 

 order to do this it is necessary to trim the roots closely, but we do not cut 

 to a straight stick, as advocated by Mr. Stringfellow. Others growers 

 in our vicinity dig a large hole, but we cannot see that the trees are bene- 

 fited thereby. The first two years we cultivate thoroughly until middle 

 of summer; after that one or two cultivations, according to conditions, 

 after the crop is set, is all that we deem necessary. In trimming we 

 try to shape the tree so that the limbs can support a heavy crop and 

 the crop be picked with the least possible expense. As near as we can 

 judge from reading we grow and care for our orchards similar to the way 

 in which it is done in other sections. We have come to the conclusion, 

 however, that growing the peach is the smallest part of the successful 

 management of a large orchard. The picking, packing and marketing, 

 so as to bring fair profits, we think far more difficult than growing a 

 first grade peach. 



The labor question with us is one that requires some thought and 

 time beforehand. We have no large towns or cities near to draw from 

 and there come times when one is much worried about getting the re- 

 quired amount of labor at the right time. 



For packing at Koshkonong the six-basket carrier is the favorite 

 package, after trying several different kinds. The California box was 

 used a few years back rather extensively but is now practically dropped. 

 The growers are not fully satisfied with the six-basket carrier and there 

 is some talk of making trial shipments from the next crop in bushel 

 baskets- 



The marketing of our crop is one of the hardest problems we have 

 to solve. We have worked with associations both local and general ; we 



