PEACHES AT THE SOUTH. 



I)h3'siolog3' and of horticultural chemistr}', have of late years added largely to our knowledge 

 of the natural laws by which the productions of the earth are brought forth; and nothing 

 short of wilful ignorance, arising from unjustifiable indolence, can be urged by any man 

 in these days of cheap books and extended education, as an excuse for his want of knowl- 

 edge on these subjects. 



But if the principles on which the above experiments were made have been correctl}'' 

 acted upon in the culture of one crop, they can equally be used as guides to improvements 

 in others. All good cultivators now know that the constituent properties of land required 

 for the production of cereal and of root crops are different. And I would instance the 

 above experiments as inducements to horticulturists, and the agriculturist also, to follow 

 up with other crops the line of inquiry suggested by them. That much may and will be 

 done is undoubted; and it is only a question who is first to reap the benefit, and claim the 

 honor that ever}' man so eminently merits, who like Mr. Geraud, seeks to add to the 

 prosperity of his countrj"- b}' a description of knowledge so intimately connected with the 

 great source of her wealth, as her native products. B. M. 



New-York, October, 1 852. 



PEACHES AT THE SOUTH, 



BY \VM. N. WHITE, ATHENS, GA. 



The Peach is the favorite, and in many instances almost the only fruit tree cultivated 

 bj' our planters. Requiring a soil of but moderate fertility, its culture is so eas}'^, its 

 enemies and diseases are so few, and the return so speedy, that there is no excuse for being 

 without good peaches. 



We escape the yellows and the curl entirely, except in our northern importations, and 

 even these generally recover, though checked for a season. We have the borer, but not 

 abundantly, though he is on the increase. The worm in the fruit itself, is also very trouble- 

 some here, being much more common than at the north. This insect seems to have a 

 preference for certain white fleshed varieties, and the two kinds most to his taste, appear 

 to be the White Blossomed Incomparable, and Morris White. Of these two varieties, 

 you will hardlj' find a fruit, without from one to three or four of these insects about the 

 stone. 



There is also a species of borer — a white grub, about an inch long, that eats directly 

 under the bark, completel}'' through the sap-wood, entirely around the limb or trunk, 

 generally taking those not over an inch in diameter. Concealed by the bark, he eats quietly 

 through the new wood, and very likely the first intimation you may have of his presence, 

 is that your j'oung peach, cherrj', plum or perhaps elm trees, (for he is a general feeder,) 

 are broken square off by the Mind or their own weight. Happily, this insect is not very 

 abundant. 



Of the above enemies to peach culture, the borer and the worm in the fruit are the most 

 serious, but fortunately they are easily managed. If the ground about the tree be kept 

 clean and free from weeds, the borer will not usually attack it, still less if the stem be pro- 

 tected b}' a few quaits of lime or leached ashes, placed around the collar of the tree in the 

 si>rinf 



lodgment be already effected, the worm can either be cut out, as he lies near the 

 face, or hot water can at this season of the year be poured about, and into his haunts, 



