92 THE KANSAS PEACH. 



some are growing on sandy land and some on heavy loam. He would prefer a 

 rich, sandy soil, so that roots could run dov?n good and deep. Does not care 

 much for slope, but if he had a choice would take north. He has neglected to 

 keep track of the names of his trees, but thinks every farmer ought to keep a 

 record of the trees he plants, and then he could give the facts about them. He 

 intends planting a new orchard this spring, and has sent for quite a variety. He 

 plants eighteen feet each way, cutting back the tops and the scraggy roots only. 

 He thinks that trees that are inclined to bear too heavily should be headed in. 

 No curculio in his orchard, nor other insects or diseases. Grows no crop and al- 

 lows no live stock among the trees. Does not irrigate. Has not marketed any ; 

 his family pick and use them as they desire. There is a good demand at home 

 at from fifty cents to one dollar per bushel. He says further: "A few years ago 

 the peach crop was a failure so often that farmers quit planting them, but we 

 have had fair crops of peaches for the last four years. Mr. Secretary, I am not a 

 stickler after law, but I must say that some of our Kansas nurserymen must get 

 out of existence, as myself and neighbors received a lot of peach poplars last 

 spring. You would have thought they were grown in a glass house. I think the 

 sooner such nurserymen get out of business the better for Kansas, as I am satis- 

 fled we can grow fruits as well as anywhere, and with less labor, if our nursery- 

 men will only do us justice." 



A. D. Arnold, Longford, Clay county, has been in the state twenty-one 

 years. He now has 250 j)each trees in bearing, from twelve to fifteen years of 

 age; have been completely cut off once, and formed new tops. Of these 200 are 

 seedlings, but of inferior quality and size. They are on a black loam with clay 

 subsoil, which he says answers very well, but he would prefer sandy bottom. 

 Does not think any slope essential. His budded varieties are Bokara, Crosby, 

 Elberta, Hale, Globe, Mountain Rose, Wheatland, Stump, Wonderful, Champion, 

 and Alexander: he would recommend the Elberta as best for market. He would 

 prefer two-year-old trees, trimmed just enough to shape well, and bruised roots 

 clipped. His Alexander comes in June, his Mountain Rose in July. The cold of 

 February, 1899, killed the tips of the new wood. Many of his peaches cook on 

 .sunny side, without regard to variety. Has no trouble with curculio or any in- 

 sects or diseases, excepting borers. Grows nothing among his trees, and allows 

 no live stock among them. Markets at home, at about fifty cents per bushel, 

 feeding all refuse to swine. Believes if choice budded varieties were used it 

 would pay to plant largely for market. 



A. Muiig'er, HoUis, Cloud county, a resident of Kansas for sixteen years, 

 says he has 4200 peach trees, planted from three to fifteen years, on sandy soil un- 

 derlaid with a black loam of drift formation: thinks any soil is good that does 

 not get too dry, and any slope good. Twelve hundred of his trees are bearing, 

 of the following varieties: Sneed, Alexander, Triumph, Early June, Hold-on, El- 

 berta, Heath, Old Mixon, Stump, Fox Seedling. Summer Snow, Salway, Fitzger- 

 ald, Greenboro, Rivers, St. John, Mountain Rose, Steadly, Crawford ( Early and 

 Late), and Crosby. He expects to sort these over and reject some. He advises 

 planting for market Alexander, Elberta, and Early June, and for family would 

 add some later varieties. He would plant trees one year from bud, 12x15 feet, 

 and thin out when they crowd. Trims to a switch and clips broken and bruised 

 roots. Believes in heading in bearing trees annually. His earliest are Early 

 June, July 1 to 4 (has not yet fruited Sneed). Says freezing hurt the immature, 

 unripened wood on all varieties. Curculio trouV)les the Early June; has not tried 



