232 THE PEACH. 



his garden to peaches, if he has no orchard; and even he who 

 lives north of the best Indian corn limits ought to venture on 

 a small line of espalier for the sake of the peach." 



PROPAGATION OF THE PEACH. 



This fruit is, perhaps, more easily propagated than any of 

 our cultivated fruits. The stone or seed may be planted any 

 time in the Fall. They will come up, however, much sooner 

 in the Spring, and without further trouble, if planted as soon 

 as the flesh is off — before they become dry. If they are allowed 

 to get dry, they can stiU be planted in thick layers or beds, 

 and covered three or four inches with rich mould, and in the 

 following Spring, when the ground becomes warm and dry 

 enough to work, they may be taken up and carefully cracked, 

 so as not to mash or injure the kernels. These kernels can 

 now be distributed in nursery rows in rich, light, well prepared 

 soil. Place them about one inch deep, or as deep as you 

 plant Indian corn, and twelve inches apart in the rows. The 

 nursery rows should be four or five feet apart, and the rows 

 had best run in a direction that will secure the most warmth 

 from the sun. If the stones of the peach are planted as soon 

 as the flesh is off', they will vegetate the next Spring, and, in 

 rich, mellow soil, will grow from three to four feet in height 

 by the Fall ; and may be budded in August or September. 

 This is an operation that should be carefully performed. 

 G-raf ting the peach is seldom attempted, as success in this way 

 is always uncertain. The buds should be put in as near the 

 ground as possible. The next year, during the month of 

 March, the young trees should be headed back; that is, care- 

 fully cut off just above the bud, and the trees will, from these 

 buds, in a good soil, attain the height of five or six feet the 

 first year — and this is far the best size for transplanting, viz: 

 one year from the bud. In northern climates the plum stock 

 is preferred to the peach for the purpose of propagation, espe- 

 cially for the finer sorts; and it is more suitable for walls and 

 protected places. 



We believe, however, that free-growing, healthy peach stocks 



