238 . THE PEACH. 



tion to thorough cultivation, and thorough pruning, must be 

 transplanted in a dormant state, or, after the leaves have 

 fallen, the sap ceased flowing, and the roots well matured ; 

 and before young rootlets begin to grow, or the buds begin to 

 swxll. November and December constitute the season to which 

 I allude. By the 10th of November, in this latitude, the sap 

 is perfectly dormant. Usually, the month of January is too 

 cold, and the ground too much frozen for transplanting. In 

 February the sap begins to rise, and the roots begin to grow, 

 and the buds begin to sw^ll." At the North, Spring is pre- 

 ferred, especially for stiif clayey soils. The peach tree, how- 

 ever, w^ill thrive, if properly planted, from the first of Novem- 

 ber to the time the fruit buds begin to show the red. 



When it is necessary to use manures in the preparation of 

 the soil for transplanting, tvood ashes should not be omitted, 

 as the peach tree contains much potash. The soil into which 

 the trees are to be set should be fertilized also with scrapings 

 from the woods and fence corners — well pulverized swamp 

 muck is very beneficial. Trees planted in the Spring should 

 always be mulched. 



One of the causes of peach trees dying while young is the 

 planting, transplanting, and pruning the same stock, which 

 causes the stock to be tender, and the bark of the tree very 

 rough; this roughness of the bark gives opportunities to in- 

 sects to lodge and breed in it; and birds in search after these 

 insects for their support, with their sharp bills, wound the 

 stock in many places ; from which wounds the sap of the tree 

 is drawn out, which congeals, and seldom fails to kill, or to 

 render the tree useless, in a few years. To prevent this, 

 transplant the trees, as young as possible, where you mean 

 them to stand — by so doing, you save nearly all the roots. If 

 the kernel is planted where the tree is intended to stand 

 there will be )io cheek in growth, which is always injurious to 

 peach trees. But as trees already budded are generally pro- 

 cured from the nurseries, it is w^ell, in order to secure good 

 roots, to purchase those, only one year from the bud.- Such 

 young trees need no staking,- and, if properly planted, will 

 grow erect and vigorous, and will outstrip those planted at 



