EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETINS 267 



PEACHES. 



The trees were pruned early in April and the new growth was cut back about 

 one-half, and a considerable amount of thinning was also done. The spraying 

 was attended to as explained in another section and where preformed before the 

 first of April, it sufficed to prevent the attack of leaf curl, but even where the trees 

 were free from this disease, many of the varieties failed to set a full crop. A large 

 number of varieties, however, sihowed so large a crop that it was necessary to 

 remove a considerable number of the fruits. The thinning was completed on the 

 15th of June. 



The trees upon which the notes have been taken are, for the most part, from five 

 to eight years old, but a few varieties were planted as early as 1888. They have 

 been grown without crops for a number of years and have been given quite 

 thorough cultivation, and at least every other year have received an application of 

 either decomposed manure or wood ashes. Each spring the trees have been cut 

 back and thinned out, and as a result of this treatment, they have been kept in a 

 compact form and the new growth is quite stroug aud vigorous. As a result of this 

 treatment there is less difference in the form and size of the trees than is usually 

 the case, and as will be observed, the notes regarding their form and size show but 

 slight variations between the dili'ereut sorts. Where trees are not cut back, a much 

 larger proportion will develop a drooping habit than where they are pruned each 

 year and this will account for the small number of trees to which the drooping 

 habit is ascribed. 



