Rural School Leaflet 1243 



of the peach differ from those of other tree fruits in that all the fruit is 

 borne on wood of the previous season's growth. This is sometimes called 

 one-year wood. The upper and lower parts of the previous season's 

 growth usually contain single buds. These are leaf buds. In the central 

 part of the branch, however, the buds are generally in clusters of three. 

 The central buds of these clusters are always leaf buds, while the outer 

 ones are fruit buds, each containing a single blossom. It is often the case 

 that only a small proportion of these buds develop sufficiently to bear 

 fruit. It is well that this is so, because if all the fruit buds that form each 

 year were to produce fruit the trees would be overloaded and considerable 

 time and money would have to be expended in thinning the fruit. Even 

 as it is, the growers of fancy peaches practice thinning the fruit each year. 



It will probably be necessary to spray the peach. Insects and dis- 

 eases will vary with the different sections and with the conditions 

 under which the fruit is grown. For information on these subjects, 

 a publication devoted to their treatment should be consulted. 



It is not possible to recommend varieties for planting with any assurance 

 that they are the best varieties for the purpose, without first knowing 

 the conditions under which they will be grown. Persons are likely to 

 feel that those fruits which are grown at a considerable distance and are 

 unknown in their own community are superior to those found at home; 

 but the safer way is to plant those varieties that have proved suitable 

 for local conditions. 



The peach is one of our finest fruits and should be found in every home 

 garden where the tree will grow. It will not thrive without care, but 

 it will repay the caretaker for the time spent on it. 



" I watch the snow-flakes as they fall 

 On bank and brier and broken wall; 

 Over the orchard waste and brown, 

 All noiselessly they settle down, 

 Tipping the apple boughs and each 

 Light quivering twig of plum and peach." 



J. T. TROWBRIDGE 



