The BriiiTix 33 



Fertilizers should bo applied either in early spriiifr or at the first 

 cultivation. By usiiijr a broadcast fertilizer distributor or a grain 

 drill, with the fertilizer side set at the ])roper proportion, the fertilizer 

 may he applied very efficiently. 



On relatively rich land it may not be necci^sary to fertilize the peach 

 orchard until it comes into bearing; but. on poor sandy soil, it is advis- 

 able to fertilize the young trees. In the spring during the first year 

 a half-pound of equal parts of cotton-seed meal and nitrate of soda 

 should be scattered around the tree, but not against the main stem. 

 The fertilizer should be distributed over an area of 4 feet. During 

 the second year Y2 to 1 pound of the same mixture may be used, dis- 

 tributed around the tree and over an area of about 6 feet. During the 

 third year a pound or a little over may be used. The fourth year the 

 trees may be fertilized as for a bearing orchard. 



THE USE OF STABLE MANURE 



In the different peach sections of the country there is a wide differ- 

 ence of opinion in i-egnvd to the use of stable manure on the peach 

 orchard, but on the light, sandy lands of this State it is of immense 

 value in improving the soil by adding humus and fertility. "When 

 available for use, it should be applied during the winter or early in 

 the spring. 



On poor soils when the trees are making a weak growth and the 

 foliage has a pale, yellowish tinge, stable manure answers better than 

 any other fertilizer in bringing them into a vigorous condition. On 

 soils of moderate to rather high fertility, if too much manure is used 

 it may overstimulate the vegetative activities of the tree to the detri- 

 ment of its fruit producing tendencies. Excessive amounts of stable 

 manure produce the same effect as other nitrogenous fertilizers in 

 causing the peaches to mature later and to be lacking in color. Trees 

 that are in a weakened condition from the ravages of root troubles, 

 such as root aphis, root rot, crown gall, or sour soil, may be brought 

 into a more vigorous condition by the use of stable manure. Trees 

 that are in such a weakened state can stand much more fertilizer than 

 healthy trees. 



PRUNING 



The most successful orchardists prune their trees regularly and sys- 

 tematically. To secure the best results from pruning, and to do it 

 intelligently, the orchardist should clearly understand the objects that 

 may be accomplished by pruning. The chief objects of pruning are: 



1. To modify the vigor of the tree. 



2. To form a framework, to cause the tree to grow shapely, and to 

 keep the tree within reasonable hounds. 



