106 THE KANSAS PEACH. 



J. A. Courter, Barnes, Washington county, has lived in Kansas thirty-one 

 years. He has 500 budded trees set in ] 892, 100 set in 1896, and a few hundred older 

 seedlings, set in 1873. These latter have for the last three or four years proven 

 quite worthless. His land is ordinary prairie. His varieties are Elberta, Chinese 

 Cling, Old Mixon Free, Wonderful, Stump, Globe, Hill's Chili, Foster, Alexan- 

 der, York, Early and Late Crawfords, and Heath Cling. He also has Champion, 

 Hale, Triumjjh, Bokara No. .3, Sneed, Elberta and Smock not yet in bearing. He 

 would advise for market mainly Elberta. He plants one-year-old trees, not less 

 than eighteen feet apart. His earliest is Alexander — in June — and he picked 

 Heath in .snow on October 12 [17], 1898. Says Hill's Chili has cooked badly on 

 the tree for the last three or four years. His only insects are borers. Leaves 

 have curled the last two years; very bad in 1898. If any crop among the trees, 

 let it be corn, and admit no live stock among them. Uses Michigan half-bushel 

 baskets, and sells at home at seventy-five cents per basket. Says buds are all 

 killed and trees much injured. 



Tlit'O. Boclker, Linn, Washington county, has lived in Kansas twenty 

 years; has 12.5 bearing peach trees, 100 of which are seedlings; ninety per cent, 

 of the seedlings are of choice qviality and fair size. These trees have been 

 planted from four to nine years, in a black, sandy soil. He thinks trees live 

 longer on a northeast aspect. He has four varieties of budded fruit, coming 

 early, medium, and late — names unknown. For market he prefers the earliest 

 varieties; plants one-year-old trees, fifteen feet apart east and west and twenty 

 feet apart north and south. At planting he trims all roots to about eight inches 

 in length, and the top to a "stick"' three feet high; does not head in bearing 

 trees, but believes it the best way. Says the cold of February, 1899, killed all 

 the buds and the late growth of limbs. No varieties escaped damage. Some 

 seasons he says his peaches cook on sunny side. He is troubled with peach- 

 borers, but no other insects or diseases. Grows oats between the trees; never 

 allows live stock among them. Picks in baskets by hand, and packs in half- 

 bushel baskets, sewing cheese-cloth over, and markets them at Washington, re- 

 ceiving from fifty cents to one dollar. Feeds culls and refuse to hogs. 



Thomas Brown, Palmer, Washington county, has been in Kansas twenty- 

 nine years, and has iOO peach trees of choice budded varieties, from four to six 

 years old, on a stiff, black soil. He thinks it would be better if a little sandy, 

 and that an eastern slope is preferable. He is growing Alexander, Rivers, Craw- 

 ford, Elberta, Mountain Rose, and Stump. Has tried many other varieties, but 

 had them killed by borers. Does not know what other varieties to recommend. 

 He plants two-year-old trees, 16 x 24 feet, cutting the tops and roots back one-half. 

 Has never headed in bearing trees. Cold of February, 1899, killed all growth 

 of the previous year; no variety escaped. His Alexanders often "cook" on the 

 sunny side while on the trees. Curculio does not trouble his peaches, but the 

 borers are awful pests. He grows potatoes and corn between his trees. Does 

 not irrigate, and does not allow live stock among them. Picks in baskets. Finds 

 his best market at home, receiving from twenty-five cents to one dollar per bushel. 

 He is also successful in selling all his refuse. Has had good crops for the last 

 three years, but thinks the buds are killed for this year. Believes it would pay 

 to plant them largely in his vicinity. 



A. Chandler, Argentine, Wyandotte county; I have 2000 bearing peach 

 trees six years old, and 1000 young trees set out. Of these four per cent, are 

 seedlings ; half of the seedlings are of fine size and quality and worthy of culture. 



