THE PEACH. 241 



large, and the trees will last only a few years in consequence 

 of the worm at the root. 



Without attention, the peach is always afjiilure; at least 

 to a great extent. This accounts for the discouragement which 

 attends the raising of this delicious fruit in many places. It 

 is tender, and needs care in its management; yet very little 

 skill or science is required in attaining for it high perfection 

 both in fruit and tree. The difficulties generally complained 

 of originate in northern climates. The South is the original 

 home of the peach, and we have only the curculio and the 

 hover to contend with, as a general thing. Every person who 

 attempts peach culture should resolve to bestow the time ne- 

 cessary to keep out the grass — to give a little manure now 

 and then — and to keep the soil beneath the trees in a fine 

 pulverized condition. Do this, and attend to the directions 

 in this work for the destruction of the insects just named, and 

 the most satisfactory results will certainly reward the light 

 labor bestowed. 



It will be a pleasant recreation for the farmer in his walks, 

 during the fine days of Spring, to view the beautiful blooming 

 of his trees — their progressive, teeming luxuriance — and after- 

 w^ards to witness the increasing size, development and beauty 

 of the fruit; whilst, at the same time, he pinches off a useless 

 or exuberant twig or bud here and there — or sees a little gum 

 exuding from the crown of the roots of the young trees, indi- 

 cating the presence and work of the borer, and with his 

 pocket-knife follows him up, and decapitates the little raven- 

 ous sap-sucker. 



Although the peach tree is so easily raised, yet there is 

 considerable diversity of opinion among authors and garden- 

 ers as to the proper cultivation and training of this unrivaled 

 fruit. There is disparity of opinion between Northern and 

 Southern orchardists. Those of the South, for light sandy 

 soils, recommend shallow plowing and tillage; while those at 

 the North plow deeper, and work the soil more thoroughly. 

 Perhaps both are right — for, in the light, thin, sandy soils, 

 the roots are forced to run shallow in search of food, and the 

 .plowing, if not carefully done tears and bruises the roots to 

 17 



