116 ' Peach-Growing 



need cultivation most; they are cultivated late in the 

 season when the trees should not receive it. 



Peach trees themselves are sometimes used as a filler- 

 crop, especially in young apple orchards. In certain sec- 

 tions a large peach industry has been developed almost 

 entirely in this way, and the fruit from such sections has 

 become a considerable factor in the market during certain 

 periods in the season. But as the apple trees have de- 

 veloped and the peach trees have been removed, the peach 

 industry of these regions has passed nearly out of existence ; 

 its complete passing is a matter of but a few years. 



The practice of inter-planting peach trees in apple orchards 

 is both condemned and advocated by growers of wide ex- 

 perience. Peaches so planted are often put on sites which, 

 though good for apples, are less satisfactory for peaches. 

 The results from the latter are, therefore, likely to be dis- 

 appointing. Probably the most serious objection, funda- 

 mentally, to this course is that it places bearing and non- 

 bearing trees on the same land, and even though different 

 fruits, it follows that trees, especially young trees not in bear- 

 ing, often require quite different treatment from those that 

 are fruiting. Obviously, under such conditions some sort of 

 a compromise treatment is necessary. As the apple trees 

 are permanent, their welfare should not be sacrificed for 

 the temporary advantage that might result so far as the 

 peaches are concerned. 



^Vhen the site is well chosen and equally good for both 

 apples and peaches, it may be presumed that the returns 

 from the filler trees will partially compensate for the cost of 

 bringing the apple trees to the bearing age. 



"Where filler-crops are used, the grower should not lose 

 sight of the fact that double demands are being made on 



