On Peach Trees. 185 



of three or four feet, in one season. Large orchards 

 are thus obtained, at a small expence. The knife is 

 never applied to the standard trees (except that some 

 head them down once when young) it being found in- 

 jurious, and to occasion the limbs of pruned trees heavi- 

 ly loaded, to break off. When suffered to grow at plea- 

 sure, they are multiplied, flexible, and tough ; and lay 

 on the ground unhurt. The crops are certain, abund- 

 ant, and well flavoured. In size, they are little inferior 

 to those on pruned trees ; although the sizes on the same 

 tree, vary much. Trespasses by cattle are sometimes 

 committed ; but the trees browzed or torn, recover the 

 next season, the orchards being generally enclosed ; to 

 exclude horses or horned cattle. They obtain fruit in 

 three years in plenty ; and the trees have been known 

 to endure fifty years. No worms or diseases assail 

 them. They are so easily propagated, and renewed, 

 that cutting do^\'Ti a peach orchard for a course of til- 

 lage, ■ on ground ameliorated by standing many years, 

 occupied as an orchard, is not uncommon. The limbs 

 are often so loaded, that the weight prostrates them ; 

 and they lay on the ground securely. None break that 

 are not pruned, and they recover their usual position, 

 when the fruit is detached. There are orchards of fifty 

 and seventy acres ; and some larger in Accomac and 

 other parts of the isthmus between the bays of Chesa- 

 peake and Delaware^ further south. The more sandy 

 the soil, the better the fruit ; nor should it be over-rich. 

 Peach orchards are planted, to ameliorate worn lands ; 

 and hogs are at certain periods of the season turned in, 

 to feed and root at pleasure. Perhaps insects and ver» 



min are destroyed by them ; and they benefit the soil, 



M m 



