298 State Horticultural Society. 



fruit ready, and, when the times comes, go and make a good dis- 

 play. The fruit shown on the tables at this meeting would be 

 packed and held in storage for this purpose. There is some fruit 

 now in storage being held for the same. Call will be made on 

 the members of this Society later. 



THE PEACH. 



(By K. B. Wilkerson, Mexico, Mo.) 



The first item to consider is a suitable location for a peach or- 

 chard. If I had a place for only a dozen or so trees, I would set 

 them most anywhere and on most any kind of soil, rather than do 

 without them; but if I was wanting to set for commercial pur- 

 poses, I would be very particular: First, about location of or- 

 chard from railroad ; second, the distance from market ; third, 

 cost of transportation ; fourth, whether or not I could manage and 

 handle the fruit myself. Anyone of these might mean failure as 

 to profit. After considering this, then comes the location and kind 

 of soil. I would want a high location, with the land above 

 the average of fertility, with plenty of sand and iron 

 in subsoil, and only rolling enough to drain thoroughly; yet would 

 want orchard where I could give it necessary cultivation, without 

 v/ashing soil off too much. Would avoid all places for orchard 

 where water would stand, as peach trees winter-kill badly where 

 water stands. Peaches must have dry ground, according to my ex- 

 perience. 



As to distance, would set trees 20x20 or 20x25 feet, so they 

 could be thoroughly cultivated when necessary. The kind of trees 

 I would prefer to set would be one year old, 3 to 4 feet, or June 

 buds, according to locality. I do not favor setting large trees. 



My idea is to begin with the earliest varieties and continue 

 in succession to the latest, so as not to have too many to ripen at 

 once. But we must consider our location and climate as to best 

 varieties. Two of our best peaches in North Missouri are the 

 Champion and Elberta. I would cultivate the peach thoroughly, 

 from time trees were set until middle of summer, and, if dry, a 

 little later, and would prune early each spring for two or three 

 years until you get trees low headed and well balanced, with as 

 few forked trees as possible. After this the crops may govern 

 both pruning and cultivating. As to the fruit, I find when fruit 



