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On Peach Trees. By Joseph Cooper of New Jersey, 



Read January 14th, 1806* 



In looking over an Almanack* for the present year, I 

 observed a piece giving information, that peach trees 

 had been preserved in the neighbourhood of Philadel- 

 phia, by removing the earth from the roots, after the 

 first hard frost, in the fall, and returning it again in the 

 spring, and oiling the body three or four feet from the 

 gTound, with common lamp oil. 



The author likewise observes, that peach trees that 

 stand in hedge rows and thickets, thrive better than 

 others in cleared ground, which had suggested the idea, 

 of defending the body of the tree, by wisps of straw, 

 to prevent the attack of insects. 



I take the liberty to make some observations on the 

 piece alluded to. 



In the first place, I think the taking the earth from 

 the roots of peach trees, in the fall, dangerous, as I tried 

 that method in the fall of 1779; the succeeding winter 

 proved very severe, as to frost, and but little snow ; the 

 consequence was, the loss of every tree so treated, and 

 their worms not injured. On examining the trees in 

 the spring, I found worms abundant as usual, and the 

 effect the removing the earth had on them, was, caus- 

 ing them to injure the tree more, by descending the 

 roots, as the cold came on ; they returned to the surface 

 as the weather w^armed, and in picking them out, I found 



'^Published bv Kiraber Conrad and Co, 



