176 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



experimental orchard of nearly 2000 trees planted with pits from our 

 hardiest and best varieties from which we already have some fine 

 peaches that we think will prove of more value than any kind we have 

 yet tested. These we designate by numbers — three of which we have 

 colored plates — which I intended to bring along, but forgot them. 



I have here a lot of testimonials from fruit men, to whom we sent 

 specimen peaches. We have planted altogether 140 acres, but nearly 

 three-fourths of our old trees are a worthless kind, and only a small 

 proportion of our young trees are old enough to bear. We are now 

 grubbing out the most of our old trees, as they are mostly worthless 

 sorts. We have had five crops in the last 10 years, amounting to 15,000 

 bushels, mostly from the old orchard, which would seem to be a light 

 yield from so many trees ; but when our young trees all come in bear- 

 ing we expect better results, as they are mostly of the best bearers. 

 From what we have learned by experiments and qther sources, I feel 

 encouraged, and inten-d to keep on planting, for I am satisfied that the 

 commercial peach orchard of Southeast Nebraska has come to stay. 

 We cultivate thoroughly, mostly with disc harrow. We also have a 

 large shovel-tooth harrow to level the surface when it becomes ridged. 

 Many people seem to think that when a tree is damaged by freezing 

 that it is because of too much cultivation, and probably the next season 

 do not cultivate at all, and the tree becomes stunted and never amounts 

 to much. The best way to manage such a tree is to cut back the 

 damaged wood and push the cultivation the season and put on as 

 heavy a growth of new wood as possible to support the damaged heart 

 or inside wood. In this way you not only get a larger tree and pro- 

 long the life of it, but get a better quality of fruit. 



J. M. Russell, Wymore, Neb. 



DISCUSSION. 



Question. What is your most hardy peach ? 



Answer. The one most hardy — Hill's Chilli is very hardy, and 

 then a peach that is called White Seedling; that originated up there. 

 Question. What is the size of the Waverly ? 

 Answer. It is about medium. 

 Question. How is the Old Mixen ? 

 Answer. They do not do at all with me. 

 Question. How is Trouth's Early ? 

 Answer. They do not bear. 

 Question. Have you any new varieties of seedlings ? 



