Rural School Leaflet 1241 



much better to consult with a neighbor who is growing plums successfully 

 than to heed the advice of the tree agent. The former has no object 

 in misleading you, the latter may or may not have. 



THE PEACH 

 H. B. Knapp 



The apple has been called the king of fruits, and justly so because 

 of its popularity and widespread use. If the apple deserves this title, 

 then the peach is just as surely the queen of fruits, possessing the qualities 

 of beauty, tenderness, and luscious flavor to a degree which no other 

 of our northern fruits can boast. It is an old, old fruit, originating either 

 in Persia or, more probably, farther eastward. The species name " Per- 

 sica," to which this fruit belongs, is derived from Persia, where it was 

 long thought that the peach was first grown. There are several groups 

 of peaches now grown in this country, just as there are several groups of 

 cherries. These groups differ in the size, shape, and flavor of the fruit 

 and in the manner of growth of the tree. Only two of these groups are 

 of commercial importance in New York State: the North China group, 

 to which the Elberta belongs, and the Persian group, of which the Craw- 

 ford is an example. 



The peach is the tenderest of all our commercial fruits. It can be 

 grown with the greatest success only in the more favored sections of the 

 State, namely, those regions in which the climate is tempered by nearness 

 to large bodies of water. For example, the Ontario Lake region of New 

 York State is recognized as one of the foremost peach-growing sections 

 in this country. This does not mean that the peach may not be grown 

 in less favored sections of the State, but it does mean that it will require 

 more attention in those parts because it is not naturally adapted to them. 

 On the whole, to grow this fruit successfully requires more care and skill 

 than to grow any other of the orchard fruits. It is very susceptible to 

 cold, to fungous diseases, and to the attacks of insects. It is wholly 

 intolerant of sod or grass, and, unlike the cherry, it is a decided failure 

 when planted in an out-of-the-way corner of the garden and left to shift 

 for itself. The peach will thrive in proportion to the care bestowed on 

 it, for, while some fruits will thrive in spite of lack of management by 

 the grower, this is not true of the peach. 



The peach is grown on a variety of soils, and we know more definitely 

 the types on which it succeeds best than in the case of any other fruit. 

 A soil that is light and warm, such as a sandy or gravelly loam, gives 

 best results. The peach does not relish a wet soil, and those just men- 

 tioned are, of course, well drained by nature. The peach is sometimes 



