SUMMER MEETING AT LOUISIANA. 43- 



diseases as others. Thorough cultivation and the application of 

 manure are the beet preventives. 



Mr. Burrows — In regard to the scab, it is not a fact that it does- 

 not exist on young trees. I have noticed it just as bad on young- tr^es 

 as on old ones. I think it is caused by the exhaustion of the soil so- 

 that it can not supply the material necessary for a perfect apple. I d« 

 not think it is caused by any insect or fungus growth. It has only 

 failed to receive what it ought to make a full and perfect apple. 



President — If we should continue our discussion of this subject till 

 to-morrow, we would know a little less than we do now; so I think we 

 had better take up the next subject. 



BENEFIT OF PEACH TREES IN APPLE ORCHARDS. 



BY HENRY SPEER OF BUTLER, MO. 



To the Officers and Members of the 3Iissouri State Horticultural Society .- 



My subject, the benefit of peach trees in an apple orchard is one 

 which, coming as it does at a time when nearly all of our fruit grow- 

 ers are being discouraged, and a great many of them disgusted with 

 the peach, on account of failure of fruit and loss of trees, may not 

 have the interest which under more favorable conditions it wouldhave, 

 but I regard the peach as too valuable a fruit to give up without fur- 

 ther trials, and advise further planting. In this short paper I shall 

 contine myself more particularly to the benefit to the apple orchard 

 to be derived by planting peach trees alternate between them, my 

 present method is to plant in squares twenty-one and a half feet apart, 

 alternating, which gives nearly one hundred trees ; fifty of each to the 

 acre. Now as to the theory of the matter, it is generally admitted 

 that apple orchards grow better, make straighter trees and come into 

 bearing younger if planted pretty thick, this is especially true of ex- 

 posed prairie locations in southwest Missouri and eastern Kansas, and! 



