220 State Horticultural Society. 



must in this connection be mentioned: the ground must be well drained, 

 must be kept dry in the fall, and the tree must be kept cool. Cultivation 

 should be done only in the spring- and the mower used the balance of 

 the season, often enough to keep down the growth of weeds. Summer 

 pruning, when the season is wet, will do much to defeat wood maturity 

 by starting new limbs and increasing late gro^^i;h of those left. 



To more quickly mature the wool and hold the buds in check, a prom- 

 inent fruit grow er has suggested shade, to be kept on the tree from the 

 time the leaves fall until the blooms are ready to open in the spring. To 

 accomplish this profitably from a commercial standpoint, the method 

 must possess the essential element of cheapness. That shade is cooler than 

 sunshine goes without saying. To deprive the treetop of growth in the 

 fall before the leaves fall, if the season is wet, which is the exception in 

 South Missouri, cover the top as I shall describe. This will not only 

 develop the top in shade, but will keep it dry. Dry buds do not advance 

 as rapidly as wet buds. Dry wood does not grow as fast as wet wood. 

 To be sure, we can not control the wetness of the ground except by 

 planting our peaches on well-drained ground. But we can control the 

 wetness of the top and reduce the temperature and lessen fall growth by 

 the employment of shade. Now to accomplish this, I suggest the follow- 

 ing method: Four Mississippi cane poles 14 to 16 feet long will cost 

 10 to 12 cents. The burlap or oiled muslin at a cost of 10 to 20 cents 

 completes the cost of the material. This combination makes a tepee 

 with which to cover the tree top. The tops of the poles are tied together. 

 The cloth is made cone fashion to fit over the poles; the poles should 

 be tied at the bottom to stakes and the middles should be braced with 

 cross pieces; 50 cents will cover the entire cost the first year, including 

 labor. The material will last safely four years; thus dividing the annual 

 cost to one-fourth the original. They should be stored in a dry place 

 during the summer. Objectors will say this costs too much; better have 

 a variety that will stand the cold. Agreed. But where is such a 

 variety ? By all means produce such a variety ; but let us not do without 

 peaches two years out of three while waiting for that happy consumma- 

 tion. Bind the limbs together with a circular binder (cloth) if you like 

 to reduce the size of the top and to prevent limb rubbing by the wind, 

 and put the tepee over that to furnish the shade and shed oflf the rain. 

 I have not tried this, but the suggestion is made in the hope that others 

 will test it with mc the coming season. The expense for a few trees 

 would not be great. It is presumed that any one who is interested enough 

 to attempt to try this knows enough to keep the top severely pruned 

 back. This method is based upon the fact that it is the air temperature 



