THE PEACH. 247 



to the hogs. As the country became open, the cold, blighting 

 winds increased in force ; the insects began their work of de- 

 vastation, and diseases before unknown were developed more 

 or less fatal : and the resistance of the trees to all these 

 enemies became more feeble as the fresh soil grew thin 

 by repeated injudicious cropping, and deprived of polash and 

 all the requisites that sustain the healthy growth and longevity 

 of the tree. The growing of grain crops was especially inju- 

 rious — and the peach crop declined. The production became 

 uncertain, and many cultivators, from these causes, and from 

 their negligence of proper tillage, gradually gave up the cul- 

 tivation in many places. The same in many respects may be 

 said of apple culture. We hope, however, the '"'' golden age' 

 of fruit culture is about to be revived, and that Avith proper 

 tillage,' skill, and attention, this pleasing and profitable branch 

 of horticulture will attain th^ success and development it de- 

 serves, and such as modern science, and energy, and an enlight- 

 ened view of the importance of the subject demand. 



What is generally termed the shortening-in system, if reg- 

 ularly attended to in the early Spring or Winter, will enable 

 the peach tree to continue in full vigor and production in 

 almost any good soil for from twenty to thirty years. Observe 

 a healthy young tree in the garden or orchard, the first bloom- 

 ing year. It is usually from six to eight feet in height, and, 

 in the South, the head is well shaped, branching off about two 

 or three feet from the ground. (We think Ioav heads are best 

 on many accounts; they shade the stem and roots, and are 

 more convenient for pruning and gathering.) The tree, per- 

 haps, has never been pruned, or only slightly, to regulate its 

 shape, and this is no disadvantage. In the latter part of the 

 Winter, or very early in Spring, the pruning may be done. 

 This is a very simple and easy operation, and consists only of 

 shortening-in, or cutting off one third or half the last seasons 

 groivth over the whole outside head of the tree, and also of some 

 of the inside branches. The usual annual growth will probably 

 average from one to one and a half or two feet, and this trim- 

 ming will take off from six to twelve inches. No exact length 

 is required — and it is well to shorten back the strongest shoots 



