THE PEACH. 235 



the 20tli of February. On the 22d there was plenty of ice 

 to put away, and the weather very cold. At this time the 

 peach buds were very much swollen, and the most forward 

 were killed by the freezing and bursting of their cells. 



Those who have to plant peach orchards in such frosty dis- 

 tricts will find great advantage in making plantations on the 

 north sides of hills, northern slopes and elevated grounds. 

 They should be preferred to Avarm valleys and southern 

 aspects, as in the cooler positions and aspects the vegetation 

 is retarded, and may escape injury. The vicinity of large 

 rivers and lakes, in the interior of the country, are also ex- 

 empt from the effect of frosts and are generally finely adapted 

 to fruit culture. 



It is not uncommon that the peach crop is partially or en- 

 tirely destro3^ed in valleys and warm locations, whilst on the 

 neighboring elevations fine and full crops are produced. It 

 is said, on a frosty night in Fall or Spring, the thermometer 

 indicates five or six degrees lower on bottom or valley lands, 

 especially if they are narrow and deep, than on the hills ad- 

 jacent. This difference, with regard to temperature, often 

 causes, in such situations, a total failure of fruit. Those who 

 are compelled to put their trees in such situations should 

 plant those varieties that have the habit of late blooming. 

 They should also select the fixed varieties,'^ such as produce 

 the same from the seed; grafted fruit is always the most 

 tender; such seedlings should be planted in the places in 

 which they are to stand, as trcmsplcnited trees are more or less 

 tender. They should be kept in a vigorous state — the worm 

 at the root should be attended to, and the long limbs cut back, 

 and the cultivation by no means neglected. Such trees will 

 bear much frost and cold without injury. This treatment will 

 cost no more than that practiced on trees in more favored 

 positions. 



Perhaps a safer plan to secure regular crops in situations 

 unusually frosty, is to procure nursery trees from the States 

 far South — say from Georgia.f The young trees from that 



* Such as the Cohimbia, Heath Cling, Tufts Kareripe, Hale's Melocotion. 

 t Middle Georgia. 



