100 Peach-Growing 



and the maintenance of an ample supply of humus or decay- 

 ing vegetable matter in the soil will do much to keep it in 

 a sufficiently productive condition for peach-growing. The 

 application of manures or fertilizers, however, is not infre- 

 quently necessary for the best and the most profitable re- 

 sults. In fact, peach trees doubtless fail of the expectations 

 entertained for them much more often from a lack of suffi- 

 cient available plant-food in the soil than is commonly 

 supposed. While a soil that is so fertile as to induce an ex- 

 tremely vigorous growth and rank foliage is not desirable, 

 the opinion commonly expressed that almost any soil, 

 however poor in fertility, is good enough for peaches is not 

 supported by the best experience. 



Tillage, cover-crops, and the use of manures and fer- 

 tilizers comprise the peach-grower's agencies for maintaining 

 the fertility of the soil in his orchard. 



Other inter-relationships of the major operations in 

 orchard management exist, but they may be passed over at 

 this time. 



