FARMERS' INSTITUTES. 101 



PEACHES AND HOW TO GROW THEM. 



BY J. N. STEARNS^ KALAMAZOO. 



In the few minutes allotted to me I will give some of the points thirty- 

 five years' experience have taught me are important in successful peach 

 growing. 



In the first place, select a suitable soil and location. Thousands of trees 

 are being planted every year on soils not adapted to peach growing, I 

 never have seen a successful peach orchard grown on soil that had to be 

 underdrained. 



SELECTION OF SORTS. 



Great mistakes are being made in the selection of sorts. We learn of a 

 particular variety that has proved of great profit to some one at a distance 

 from us, we plant it largely and find that it is not adapted to our locality. 

 The safest way is to cast about our own vicinity and find sorts that are 

 in demand, succeed in our soils and climate. Of course good trees should 

 be selected and planted on well fitted soil. Thorough cultivation should 

 be given, but for the young orchards not in bearing, this cultivation 

 should be discontinued in July and a cover crop sown which gives the 

 trees ample time to mature the new growth to go into winter. For several 

 years I have used oats for this cover crop and found it very satisfactory ; 

 they should be sown at the last cultivation in either young or bearing 

 orchards. Most soils have fertility enough to properly grow the trees if 

 well cultivated until they come into bearing. 



PRUNING. 



In planting, the ends of all roots should be pruned off and the tree 

 pruned to a sharp whip and headed back to 2Y2 to 3 feet. The next spring 

 the top should be formed, leaving only such branches as are needed for a 

 permanent top. Each spring the tree should receive a careful pruning, 

 heading back quite severely, especially on the east side of the tree to keep 

 it well balanced. I am satisfied that we are leaving too much top on all 

 our fruit trees for the best results, and if this is properly attended to 

 each year, we may keep it in proper shape without severe, shock to the 

 tree. 



SPRAYING. 



This has become a necessity to successful peach growing to prevent 

 curl-leaf. It is also a material help in preventing rot in the fruit. This 

 spraying is a preventive, therefore it is of importance that it should be 

 done in time. My experience is that it should be done before the sap 

 starts, as I have seen this difference in sorts subject to curl-leaf, one row 

 sprayed the last of March — full crop — one row sprayed the last of April 

 — no fruit scarcely — same sort and rows side by side. This spraying 

 should be very thorough from both sides. I use for this two pounds of 

 sulphate of copper to fifty gallons of water. • 



