THE PEACH. . 237 



a conical or pyramidal form, fifteen feet may be sufficient for 

 regular orchards. Where it is desired to take the wagon 

 through the orchard, to carry the fruit away, tAventy-four feet 

 distance to every fiftli row, one way, will afford sufficient 

 space. In apple orchards, with trees thirty or thirty-three 

 feet, a row of peach trees between may be grown with ad- 

 vantage. 



Pi'oper Location. — The Rev. C. W. Westbrook, an eminent 

 pomologist of North Carolina, says: "The peach does not 

 require the richest, nor will it succeed on the poorest soils, 

 unless a good supply of vegetable matter be used, not only in 

 planting., but subsequentl}^ as a top-dressing. In planting a 

 peach orchard, I would select, as a general rule, high ground 

 of moderate fertility, capable of producing a moderate crop of 

 grain." 



"I would not be careful to select a northern, southern, 

 eastern, or western exposure in particular, but Avould prefer 

 to plant, if possible, on opposite ground at the same time. 

 For example — one of my neighbors owned a high hill which 

 sloped north and south. He had peach orchards on both 

 sides of the hill. I have seen the orchard on the north side 

 burdened with fruit; while on the south side the frost had 

 completely destroyed the crop — and vice versa. The same 

 may be said of eastern and western exposures.^ 



"It is doubtless quite as advantageous to plant on different 

 locations, and thereby render a crop in either one of the 

 orchards almost certain annually. Peach trees will thrive, 

 with proper care, in either red, gray, or sandy soils." 



When to Plant. — The same Southern writer says (and we 

 are of the same opinion): "There seems tu be various dif- 

 ferences of opinion in regard to the most suitable season for 

 transplanting peach trees. I am satisfied that the Fall is the 

 proper time. My reasons are obvious: In the first place, the 

 peach tree, to do well, and come early into bearing, in addi- 



* The author agrees with Mr. AVestbrook in this — having experienced the effects of the 

 vicissitudes of the Winter in different locations and exposures; and, he has to remark 

 in the same connection, that his orchards on the hills are at this time (May the 1st) 

 laden with young fruit, whilst those in the valley have none, or but a scattering crop. 

 This was occasioned by the cold of the 22d and 2od of February, 1870. 



