214 



MISSOURI AGRICULTURAL REPORT. 



PREPARATION OF THE LAND. 



Plow the land in the fall before setting- the trees in the spring. New 

 land is well adapted to the growing of peaches, but they may also be grown 

 on old land which is very low in fertility, but more skill will be required 

 in their management. In spring, harrow and stir the soil like preparing 

 for corn. Indicate the rows and the position of each tree by marking 

 off the field into checks with a single-shovel plow or by a series of stakes. 



Fig. 1.— One year-old tree from the bud as it 

 comes from the nursery. 



Fig. 2.— Same as Fig. 1 

 pruned ready for planting. 



The distance apart the trees should be set depends upon the kind 

 of soil. In localities where the soil is rich and peach trees are known to 

 grow large, they should be at least twenty feet apart each way. This 

 would give io8 trees per acre. In a general way, much of the central and 



