144 State Horticultural Society. 



When the ground is fairly level, I consider shallow cultivation 

 the best, but this should be stopped the latter part of July so as 

 not to stimulate the growth, thereby producing immature wood. 

 On steep hill-sides, I would advocate cultivation only the first three 

 to five years, when the land should be sowed to clover or some sort 

 of grass. This should be moved about June 1, and if second 

 growth starts again, in August or September, but all clippings 

 should remain on the ground, to form a mulch and produce humus, 

 which latter a peach tree delights in. 



I find that trees should not be planted less than 20 feet each 

 way, as they will eventually do their own thinning after the first 

 two crops, if planted closer. Besides, the peach revels in sunshine, 

 and the more space between the trees the better colored will be the 

 fruit. 



In pruning, all long branches should be cut back with a pole 

 pruner each spring. I consider the best time for this after the 

 buds begin to swell, so one can tell about what the crop will be, 

 thereby thinning the fruit. This is absolutely necessary when 

 there is a full set of fruit, in order to produce marketable peaches. 

 In seasons when all buds are winter-killed is the time to prune 

 heavily, so as to produce young growth. If a peach tree is prop- 

 erly pruned it should never break down from the weight of its 

 fruit, no matter how heavily loaded, excepting, of course, very old 

 trees, where the trunk is decayed. 



In picking the fruit, the same should be handled very care- 

 fully. I usually have one man to pick the fruit in chip baskets 

 and one to cull all specked or inferior fruit, in the orchard, as I 

 consider it best not to haul peaches before being properly packed 

 A movable tent or shed is a great convenience in rainy weather. 



I use the full size one-half bushel basket, as it always pays 

 to give honest measure. 



In packing, I always face with peaches of uniform size, but 

 not the largest, which should go in the bottom of the basket, rather 

 than on top. A lot of uniform sized peaches will always show off 

 better on the market than unevenly packed fruit, and if a grower 

 has once established a demand, by packing only first-class fruit, 

 he will have no trouble in holding the trade at remunerative prices, 

 even if the market is overstocked with inferior fruit. 



I find, where express charges and commission have to be paid, 

 it is policy to feed small peaches to the hogs, as they will thrive 

 and fatten on the seeds, the same as on acorns. 



Where a grower has a family trade, it should be his aim to 



