652 ANNUAL REPORT OF THE Off. Ooc. 



The other precaulious in Ihe pmchase aud haudliug of stock 

 ou receipt are essentially as described for apples, pages (5 and 7 of 

 my liulletin lOG, though the root-pruning nuiy be more severe with 

 I)eaches. 



Peaches are planted 1(3 to 20 feet apart. Deep dead furrows 

 and a wire marked with the desired distances and long enough to 

 reach throughout the row are most convenient and satisfactory. 

 I'liree men, one to drop the trees and the others to plant, will thus 

 set from 50 to 75 trees per hour in good soil. The soil should be 

 well firmed about the roots, and the trees set slightly deeper than 

 they grew in the nursery. If soil "cups" develop about the trees, 

 they should not be permitted to remain, as they are conductive to 

 v.inter injury, especially on exposed western slopes. Peach trees 

 should be headed at about IS to 24 inches, and from three to five 

 limbs may be used in forming the framework for the tops. In later 

 pruning, the main objects are to keep the annual growth well headed 

 back, thus avoiding undue increase in height, and to keep the tops 

 fairly oj^eu in order to secure light and ventilation for the fruit. 



CULTURE, THINNING AND PICKING 



As to cultural methods, peaches are generally considered to re- 

 quire more thorough and continuous tillage than ai>ples. The till- 

 age and cropping methods described for the latter in Bulletin 106, 

 however, if thoroughly carried out, will generally prove satisfactory. 



The proper use of fertilizers on peaches is a matter of some de- 

 bate. Judging from analyses, peaches are more exhaustive on the 

 land than any other fruit crop. But in spite of this, the value of 

 fertilization is questioned by some growers, especially if they are 

 making good use of cover crops. It is an interesting fact, however, 

 that in Niagara county, N. Y., on nearly 3,000 acres of peaches it 

 was found that over 87 per cent, of the acreage was receiving ferti- 

 lizer of some kind. Also the average return for five years from 

 those orchards receiving manure was $2G per acre higher than that 

 from the unfertilized orchards and the return from those receiving 

 both nrauure and commercial fertilizer was |46 per acre higher than 

 from the unfertilized. This would indicate that a judicious use of 

 fertilization should prove profitable in many cases. Care should be 

 taken, however, not to stimulate growth unduly and especially not 

 to prolong the seasonal growth so much as to i)revent the entrance 

 upon winter with well-seasoned wood. 



Thinning is essential whenever the trees are undirly loaded. It 

 is regularly practiced by all commercial growers. It enables the 

 fruit to attain proper size, aids in the control of rot and avoids un- 

 necessary exhaustion of the tree. Over-production and starvation 

 are among the leading causes of failure and early decline in the 

 average peach orchard. The thinning is done usually in the latter 

 part of June, after the "June drop,'' leaving no peaches less than 

 4 to 6 inches apart, and removing especially those that are defective. 



The proper time for picking depends largely upon the time re- 

 quired in reaching market. It also naturally depends rrruch upon 

 the carrying qualities of the variety and the cooliug and shipping 

 facilities available. The best color, quality and size are undorrbtedly 

 attained by permitting the fruit to ripen on the tree. When con- 



