Location and Site of the Orchard 29 



In fact, when the temperature drops lower than — 10^, 

 commercial peach-growers begin to speculate on the chances 

 of a crop the coming season. On the other hand, one fre- 

 quently hears of a peach tree passing through a temperature 

 of 30"^ below zero or perhaps even lower and still producing 

 some fruit the next season. The condition of the tree at 

 the time such extreme temperatures occur determines to 

 some extent the results. If the buds are perfectly dormant 

 and the trees vigorous and thrifty, the effects of an adverse 

 temperature are much less serious than when opposite con- 

 ditions of tree and buds prevail. Moreover, a menacing 

 temperature may cause little or no damage to the buds if 

 its period of duration is short, when at another time a tem- 

 perature even less severe will cause great loss if it lasts for a 

 considerable length of time. It may be noted that in case 

 of injury, the fruit-buds are the first to be affected. The 

 tree usually will withstand without injury considerably 

 lower temperatures than the fruit-buds. 



In contrast to locations that are limited by too great cold 

 in winter, those limited by subtropical temperatures require 

 mention. \Miile the varieties of certain races of peaches 

 can be grown where the climate is very mild all the year, 

 they do not thrive where it is not sufficiently cold, for a short 

 period at least, to induce a dormant condition. Thus it 

 follows that the southern extension of peach-culture, as 

 well as the northern, is limited by temperature, but by the 

 opposite extreme. 



Even more important, perhaps, than either of the ex- 

 tremes of temperature mentioned is a combination of com- 

 paratively mild extremes at certain periods. For example, 

 in certain sections of the country, including some in which 

 large peach interests have been developed, very mild speUa 



