352 AGRICULTURAL REPORT. 



PEACHES. 



In former years peaches were among the most beautiful and delicious of our 

 fruits. In no part of the country were they finer or more highly flavored thai? 

 in the southern parts of New England. But for a few years past an epidemic 

 disease has prevailed among them, by which in many sections they have been 

 v/holly destroyed. It is believed, however, that the crisis has now passed, and 

 within the last two years cultivators have again been planting them. 



The peach tree likes a warm, gravelly soil, grows rapidly, and comes into 

 bearing in three or four years from the bud. It is short-lived, and after bear- 

 ing a few crops begins to fail. The best way to cultivate the peach is to have 

 a succession of young trees to take the place of the old ones as they fail. 



Few fruits are more beautiful on the tree or more temptiBg in the dish than 

 plums. As a dessert they are everywhere in favor, and are extensively used 

 as a preserve ; in either form they are wholesome and nutritious. Beauty 

 around us adds to our happiness, if our tastes are rightly cultivated, and what 

 can be more beautiful than a well-managed plum orchard near a favorite win- 

 dow, where, after the fragrant blossoms are gone, we can look upon the rich 

 dark red of the Golden Drop, the faint green of the Imperial Gage, the golden 

 yellow of the Jefferson, and the pale crimson of the Washington ? 



Plum trees are hardy and easily cultivated. They are suited to our climate, 

 unless the black wart is a climatic disease. They flom-ish better on rich loams 

 than on sandy soil. Of late years many gardeners and orchardists have been 

 deterred from setting them on account of the black wart and the curculio. No 

 remedies seem yet to have been found for the former. The curculio con- 

 tinues its ravages only for a short time and may be prevented from doing 

 much mischief by timely application of fine lime, plaster, or ashes. These 

 should be sifted over the young fruit two or three times a week for a month. 



Among the best varieties of this fruit ai"e the Golden Drop, the Imperial 

 Gage, the Jefferson, Washington, Green Gage, Purple Gage. Lawrence's Fa 

 vorite, and Smith's Orleans. 



SMALL FRUITS L\ THE GARDEN. 



Large fruits may be cultivated to perfection in the orchard, but small fruits 

 find their appropriate place in the garden. The most important of these are 

 the currant, the strawberry, the raspberry, and the grape. 



I have already referred to the healthful influence of fruits on the system de- 

 pressed by summer heats. The very presence of a dish of fresh and juicy 

 strawberries, currants, or raspberries upon the tea table is refreshing to the 

 sight and stimulating to the languid appetite. Compared with them all other 

 condiments are tame and insipid. As health-imparting medicines no sugar- 

 coated pills or pellets can compete with them. 



CURRANTS. 



The cuiTant requires a good soil and clean culture. The addition of a little 

 compost in which ashes are mixed will insure a crop every year. In the open 

 sunlight they are less subject to blight, but will yield tolerable crops in the 

 shade. A row of currants on the north side of a tight fence will not ripen so 

 soon by ten days as one upon the south side. In this way the season for en- 

 joying them may be prolonged. There are several varieties in common use. 

 The large kinds are in general the most acid. 



The. common Dutch red and white currants are hardy, and, perhaps, on the 

 Avhole, the most valuable. The old and moss-covered wood should be cut out 

 in the spring, and the branches not be allowed to grow too large and spreading. 



