TWENTY FIFTH ANNUAL MEETING. 177 



MICHIGAN PEACH ORCHARDS. 



BY MR. J. N. KTP:ARXS OF KALAMAZOO. 



I hardly know what I aui expected to say under this topic. We know 

 thereisnoonesiibjectreceivinomoreattentionin the minds of hmdowners 

 in this state at the present time, and especially by those owning land 

 adapted to peach culture. It has often been said that peach-growing 

 was being overdone; and undoubtedly this may have been true where 

 planters have covered more territory than they could properly fertilize 

 and care for. But Michigan produced far more peaches the past season 

 than ever before; and, notwithstanding the hard times, to the grower 

 who gave proper care to his orchard, in cultivation and careful thinning, 

 the result has been satisfactory, so much so that our peach-growing sec- 

 tions are in the best financial condition. 



The past season it has been more than ever demonstrated to my mind 

 that we make a great mistake in trying to cover too much acreage. That 

 is, if we had buthalf the number of trees, and gave them all the fertilizers 

 and cultivation we give the larger number, it would mean more money 

 in our pockets. I had a good demonstration of this the past season. I 

 madeaplat of ground very rich, by a liberal api)lication of barnyard man- 

 ure and ashes, to fit it for growing gooseberry plants. Adjoining this 

 plat are four peach trees of Mountain Rose and Oldmixon, and such beau- 

 tiful peaches they bore!— twice the size of those of same sorts not getting 

 the benefit of the liberal feeding. From one of these trees were picked 

 thirty-five baskets, or seven bushels, some of which sold for $2.30 per 

 bushel. We may accomplish part of this result, where we have more 

 trees planted than we can give the required amount of feeding, by pretty 

 severe pruning and heading back. 



I am satisfied that on most of our orchards we have too much top. We 

 are too much afraid of cutting off the fruit. The tree is debilitated by 

 trying to mature too much fruit; and not only this, but I think our 

 friend Kellogg has struck a very important point, in warning us of the 

 danger of debilitating fruits by over-production of pollen. 



I am convinced there is very much more in this than any of us have 

 been aware. I have 350 Anjou pear trees, which have blossomed very 

 full for several years, but have borne but very little fruit. The past 

 spring I had one row of fifty trees grafted to Bartlett. The grafter cut 

 off about half of the top (as he was putting them in by the hundred), and 

 the result was, many of the branches which were left broke with the 

 weight of fruit, and of the finest quality, while the rest of that variety 

 bore but little fruit, although blossoming profusely, leading me to believe 

 that the previous slight bearing was caused by impotence of the trees, 

 brought about by efforts to produce so much pollen. 



I am surprised to learn that, in some sections of what they call the 



peach belt, they object to so short a time as five days' notice to cut trees 



affected with yellows. If they had the experience that some of us have 



had at South Haven, they would want but five hours. I cut out 400 very 



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