rEUXIXO AND MANAGEMENT OF TUE PEACU TREE. 



Some fifteen or sixten years ago we can recollect there was a very considerable deraaud 

 for it ; but latterly it lias boc-n overlooked and nct^fleeted, while often trees possessing 

 not a luindredth part of its merits have been ])lanted by the thousand. It is a tree 

 that arrests the attention of even common observers at all seasons, — in summer, its 

 starrv, shining, tremulous foliage — in autumn, its gorgeous hues — and in winter, its 

 peculiarly furrowed bark. There is, moreover, but the one species of the genus in 

 North America. According to our experience, the seeds generally lie a year in the 

 ground before growing. Loroox says: "In America, several insects feed upon the 

 leaves, among which we may mention the Green Swallow-tailed Emperor Moth 

 {^Phalivna luna), and the Great Plane Moth (/*. imperatorki)!'^ We have no knowl- 

 edge of this beyond this statement, and we are inclined to think it almost, if not 

 entirely, exempt from the attacks of insects, especially in the Northern States. — Ed.] 



i 



TRUXIXG AND MANAGEMENT OF THE PEACH TREE.* 



II. rROPAGATION OF THE TEACH BY BUDDING. 



31. It is by budding that the Peach tree is propagated. The proper stocks for it 

 are the Almond, the Saint Jullcn and Damask Plums, and the Peach itself. Lately 

 the Myrohalan Plum has been budded on, and is said to produce excellent stocks for 

 this purpose, but I have not tried it. 



32. The finest trees are produced on the Almond stock, especially on the hard-shelled 

 variety. It succeeds well everywhere except on very wet soils, or those subject to be 

 flooded, because the roots of the Almond almost invariably perish when under water. 

 It has the advantage of late growth ; consequently, it is indispensable for the late 

 varieties of Peaches. 



33. The Plum is better fitted than the Almond for moist soils. Except in this case, 

 I prefer the Almond stock because it imparts a greater vigor to the tree. This is the 

 opinion of the growers also. Nevertheless the following example does not appear to 

 corroborate this : For ten years I have cultivated a wall covered with a hundred 

 Peach trees, of which fifty were on Almond and fifty on Plum stocks, planted alter- 

 nately. The soil was very unsuitable for the culture of the Peach, being gravelly, 

 stony, clayey, <fec. All the trees have, notwithstanding, grown well ; Almond and 

 I'lum stocks have made an equal growth, so much so that, even after most scrupulous 

 examination, I have found it impossible to say on which stock the tree succeeded best. 

 The produce from both lias also been in every respect equal. I still, however, prefer 

 the Almond stock, although I have given this case as an exception in favor of the Plum. 



33. The Peach tree itself is the least employed as a stock on which to bud its dif- 

 ferent varieties. They grow on it vigorously, but do not fruit so readily. They are 

 also liable to gumming. I have budded the Peach on its own stock, and have been 

 disappointed with the crop of fruit. I have remarked that by budding a second 



*Continueil from December number. 



