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'I 



On Peach Trees. By Richard Peters. 



Read February 11th, 1806. 



The last meeting of the Society was favoured Avith 

 a communicPition on the subject of peach trees, from 

 Joseph Cooper Esq. of New Jersey, whose experience 

 has enabled him to add much to our stock of practical 

 knowledge. I was desired to give some account of 

 what had fallen under my own observation, relating to 

 this valuable and delicious fruit. I know not any in the 

 catalogue of our trees, more desirable, nor more sub- 

 ject to mortifying decay, disease and destruction. 

 Having cultivated it from my eai'liest youth, it should 

 seem that I could give some certain and profitable 

 mode of remedying its tendency to premature decay, 

 and repelling the diseases to which it is invariably a 

 victim. But I have found myself so frequently baffled 

 in my endeavours ; and have seen the fallacy of so ma- 

 ny theories, on this subject, that I diffidently affirm any 

 thing respecting its culture or cure. It is therefore 

 only in obedience to the wishes of the Society, that I 

 express my opinions or experience. 



About fifty years ago, on the farm on ^^hich I now 

 reside, my father had a large peach orchard, \\hich 

 yielded abundantly. Until a general catastrophe befel 

 it, plentiful crops had been for many years produced, 

 with little attention. The trees began nearly at once 

 to sicken, and finally perished. Whether by the wasp 

 then undiscovered, or by some change in our climate, 

 I know not. For 40 years past, I have observed the 



