THE KANSAS PEACH. 35 



The usual distance for setting is sixteen feet each way. On the 

 stronger soils, eighteen and even twenty feet is occasionally used. 



The quincunx method is also reported, which requires about half 

 as many more trees for the same area as when set square. An ajiple 

 orchard is frequently started with the peach, the latter having passed 

 its usefulness when the apple comes into bearing. In this case every 

 other tree in every other row is an apple. 



The age of trees generally used is one year from bud, though about 

 thirty per cent, of the growers prefer two-year-old trees, and a few 

 those still older. Sod land is almost always preferred [this is in New 

 Jersey], though an occasional grower crops with corn a year j^revious 

 to setting the orchard. Spring setting is quite generally practiced, 

 though aiaproximately one sixth set in the fall and report excellent 

 results. Care should be taken, when setting, to have the roots well 

 spread, and to fill all air spaces, also to thoroughly firm the soil with 

 the feet. This point is very imijortant; it not only holds the tree in 

 place, but prevents the drying out of the soil about the roots. 



PRUNING AND THINNING. 



These operations exercise a great influence on the life of the tree 

 and the size and color of the fruit. The low-forked, vase form is an 

 excellent method of training, the foundation of which is laid at set- 

 ting. All side shoots are cut back, and the trunk cut to about two 

 and one-half feet, from which point the main branches are started to 

 form the tree head. The idea prevails that this form of tree prevents 

 close cultivation, though experience has proven that the low heads, 

 w4th obliquely rising branches, are easier to work among than the 

 high-headed trees with their horizontal, drooping branches. The ad- 

 vantages of the low fork are the ease of pruning, picking, and thin- 

 ning, while its spreading habit freely admits the sun to color the fruit ; 

 and the disadvantages of the high-topped tree are that it is generally 

 more dense, hence shading the fruit ; besides, it exposes more of the 

 trunk to the hot sun, and is more liable to be injured by high winds. 



The time of pruning is not so important a matter, since it may be 

 performed in any month in the year ; authorities, however, generally 

 agree that late winter or early spring, before the buds swell, is best.. 

 One point to remember in pruning is that the fruit is borne on wood 

 of the previous season's growth, and hence a vigorous annual growth 

 should be provided for this purpose, which is readily accomplished by 

 an annual shortening in process, the cutting back of a quarter or a 

 third of the growth of each year. 



Thinning is not practiced to the extent that it deserves ; for while 

 direct experiments are wanting, the fact remains that the removal of 

 a third or half of the number on the tree, as occasion demands, greatly 



