Miscellaneous. 219 



seeking a variety sufficiently hardy to withstand this low temperature, 

 and unfortunately but little progress has apparently been made, for we 

 still see the peach crop a failure, more or less complete, two years out of 

 three. Such chances as these make peach growing in some localities a 

 bad proposition. To find some method by means of which we could get 

 even a half crop instead of these years of failure would be a pleasure 

 to us all, and in order to find this method we must look facts squarely 

 in the face. The efforts to produce hardy varieties should not cease, 

 for it is no more impossible to produce a peach hardy enough to pass 

 safely through a winter of 25 degrees below zero than to grow an orange 

 as far north as South Missouri, and that has been done. But in the 

 absence of such a hardy variety, other means should be sought, to the 

 end that we may have some peaches every year, or at least as many 

 years as we have apples. I believe this can be done. 



To accomplish this, all that is necessary is to have the wood that is 

 to bear the peach properly matured to enable it to withstand a temperature 

 of 16 below zero. In South Missouri we seldom see it below that, and 

 when it does go below it we see peaches that have survived even 26 below, 

 as witness eight peaches on a tree in Noel, Mo., this season. If it is 

 possible for eight peaches to withstand a temperature of 26 degrees 

 below zero, it is possible for any number under like conditions of wood 

 and bud. 



In order to work to that end, two factors must be taken into account. 



First, mature wood ; and, second, immature buds. These are able to 

 withstand a much lower degree of cold than immature wood and advanced 

 buds. Then the objects to attain are mature wood and buds held in 

 check, and not allowed to open in the spring until all danger of frost is 

 over. 



The burning question is, how can these longed-for conditions be 

 attained? Would it pay to produce a tree full of Elberta peaches at an 

 expense of 25 cents a tree. Supposing it bear only one bushel, and 

 supposing the season is a favorable one and everybody has peaches, that 

 tree would bring a dollar in return. On the other hand, suppose the 

 season was unfavorable (and we have that kind two seasons out of three), 

 then the bushel of peaches would bring $2.50. Without the expenditure 

 of this 25 cents the return would be nothing. Now, to produce mature 

 wood that is to bear the peach, fall growth must be prevented. Bear 

 in mind that the peach always grows on a limb that is one year old — 

 wood that grew the last season. That wood must mature in the fall, at 

 which time also the fruit buds form. So to hold back fall growth and to 

 restrain bud advancement is the great desideratum. Two more facts. 



