240 THE PEACH. 



way. If the soil be tliin, I drop a few shovels full of rich 

 earth from the woods or fence corners at every stake. The 

 planting, then, is easily done. 



" The soil having been previously well broken, I dig a hole 

 large enough to receive, in their natural position, all the 

 roots: the stake being left standing. Then cut off with a 

 sharp knife about one third of the branches of the tree; 

 or, in other words, reduce the top about one third; also, 

 by an under cut, any bruised or mutilated portions of the 

 roots (Mr. W., we suppose, refers to trees two or three years 

 old), leaving all the sound, healthy roots and fibres Then 

 take up the stake and plant the tree exactly where the stake 

 stood, and just as deep, and no deeper, than it grew in the 

 nursery, spreading out the roots naturally. Then sift or 

 scatter the fine soil gently on the roots, until all the interstices 

 are v.ell filled by working it in among the fibres with the 

 fingers, while the earth is thrown in, and then, as rapidly as 

 you please, up to the collar of the tree (which is the place a 

 little above where the roots are emitted from the loAver ex- 

 tremity of the trunk — usually about two inches, and of a yel- 

 lowish color), and then press the earth gently with the feet all 

 around the stem and over the roots. The planting done, it is 

 best to throw some kind of coarse litter, such as can be most 

 easily obtained, around the trees, covering the surface five or 

 six inches, to protect the roots in dry weather. When trees 

 are planted in the Fall, I deem it altogether unnecessary to 

 use the litter." 



CULTIVATION. 



It is well known to the cultivators of this delightful fruit, 

 that it requires careful cultivation in order to insure the per- 

 fection of both tree and fruit that is always desirable, and 

 which is by this means so easily attained. Nothing that grows 

 out of the earth will pay better for the care bestowed, or will 

 shew good treatment sooner than the peach tree. Although 

 it cannot be denied, that in favorable climates, and in good 

 soils, trees promiscuously growing about farms will, for a few 

 years, bear fruit of fine fiavor — yet such fruit will not be 



