THE PEACHES OF NEW YORK I47 



Erie shores, but more often in the more broken cowntry about the Finger 

 Lakes. In such cases the rigors of seasons are seldom felt. We do not recall 

 seeing a single successful peach-orchard in the State shut in on all sides by 

 higher land — frosts and freezes would soon play havoc in such a situation. 



The exposure of a peach-plantation is, without doubt, a matter of some 

 importance in choosing* a site but the value of particular exposures to avoid 

 frosts and secure early, late, or highly colored fruits has been greatly over- 

 emphasized by horticultural writers if New York orchards be taken as 

 criteria. The theory is most plausible. It runs, in brief: Northward 

 slopes are best for peaches in frosty regions since on such slopes plants 

 remain dormant longest thereby often escaping spring frosts. Southward 

 slopes should be selected for early varieties, the sun and warmth of such 

 an exposure supposedly hastening the ripening time. Now the facts are, 

 as we observe them, the peach blossoms with the first burst of spring 

 warmth whether the slope face north or south ; and whether north or south 

 makes little difference in ripening because the intense heat of our New York 

 summers submerges slight differences appearing early in the season because 

 of exposvire. About all that shows in the matter of exposure for peach- 

 orchards, in this State is that the best slopes are toward the water to secure 

 the effects that dictate the location of orchards near water. 



One comes across many peach-orchards in New York in the shelter of 

 high hills or heavy forests for which the trees usually show gratitude in 

 vigor and fruitfiilness, provided hill or wood does not shade the orchard 

 too much. Hills and woods provide desirable shelter only when so situated 

 as to protect against winter winds and summer storms. A most remark- 

 able example of winter protection by- a forest was to be seen a few years 

 ago on the somewhat noted fruit-farm of Mr. Grant Hitchings near South 

 Onondaga where peaches are at the limit as regards temperature. Here 

 was a peach-orchard half of which was terribly injured by winter-killing 

 and the other half, protected by a forest a quarter-mile away, was wholly 

 unhurt. Yet windbreaks have seldom proved satisfactory, usually develop- 

 ing as many or more disadvantages than advantages. 



STOCKS AND THE PROPAGATION OF PEACHES 



The peach-tree, in common with all other fruit-trees, is a consort of 

 two individuals — a named variety budded on an unnamed seedling. 

 So far, the industry has been carried on with little or no regard to the 

 effects the seedling may have on the variety to which it is budded, yet 



