THE KANSAS PEACH. 119 



hear reports of peach trees beiug winter-killed, but do n't think any of mine are. 

 The fruit-buds of my budded trees are all killed, but my seedlings are about 

 •one-third alive." [Harper county is on the southern boundary of the state, mid- 

 way east and west.] 



J. C. Ciirran, Curran, Harper county, has been in Kansas sixteen years and 

 has 600 peach trees; 100 of these have been out twelve years, others not so long. 

 They are on sandy loam, which he thinks preferaVjle. He has two seedlings which 

 he thinks quite worthy. As for slopes, he says, if he had a choice, he would 

 take a northern or northeastern. He is growing Alexander, Arkansas Traveler, 

 Elberta, Mrs. Brett, Heath Cling, Crawford, Smock, Crimson Beauty, and Sal- 

 way. Has discarded Bonanza and Amsden as too small, and Stump the World as 

 too coarse. He would recommend, for general use, Elberta, Crawford, Mrs. Brett, 

 Smock, and Salway. He sets out thrifty yearlings, twenty feet apart; does no 

 pruning excepting to cut off the ends of the roots. He heads back bearing trees 

 if they seem to carry too much brush; "if you do not, your fruit will be small." 

 His earliest fruit is Sneed, June 20; Alexander, June 25; Arkansas Traveler, 

 June 30, and his latest McKevit Cling and Bonanza, November 15. Cold did not 

 harm peaches with him. His seedling peaches sometimes "cook" on the trees 

 where planted too thickly. Curculio is found in his early peaches. Has never 

 tried spraying — thinks it would not pay for the trouble. Says he is troubled 

 with boys in short breeches. Has no peach disease whatever. Does not irrigate, 

 grows no crop, and allows no live stock among his trees. Leaves his peaches to 

 ripen and fall off; gives most of them away, but believes it would pay to plant 

 them largely in his vicinity. He says, further: "Old orchard mostly dead; they 

 generally bear themselves to death; later plantings are thrifty; seedlings, where 

 protected by close planting, are not injured. If fruit was planted in quantity, so 

 that we could load a car or more every day, then we could sell our fruit; th^ 

 quality, flavor and size are much superior to the Missouri peach, and failures are 

 infrequent." 



A. P. Hemiiig'er, Santa Fe, Haskell county, says peaches have borne well 

 during the past two years, but that drought is their worst drawback. No insects 

 but grasshoppers; no diseases. He has 200 trees. Some are Elberta, Crawford's 

 Early, Old Mixon Cling, one or two others ( names forgotten ), and seedlings. His 

 trees were one year old, planted 12x20, pruned back one-half; only bruised and 

 broken roots were trimmed. Fruit-buds are all killed and trees are somewhat 

 damaged. 



C. H. L,oiig"stretli, Lakin, Kearny county, has been in Kansas thirty years: 

 has 800 peach trees: about 100 are seedlings; about one-fifth of these are of fine 

 size and quality. His trees are mostly five years old, growing in sandy loam with 

 clay subsoil; thinks it very good, but not the best. Would prefer deep, sandy 

 soil, with porous subsoil. Says level surface is good, but of all slopes he would 

 ■choose north and east. He is growing Alexander, Elberta. Early and Late Craw- 

 fords, Crosby, Salway, Stump, Heath and Snow Cling. Says this list is quite 

 satisfactory, being as hardy as any and coming in succession during the season, 

 from early to late. Invariably sets small one-year-old trees, sixteen to eighteen 

 feet apart, pruned to a short stick, leaving four or five good buds to form a top, 

 pruning all injured roots. He cuts back one- third of each year's growth on bear- 

 ing trees, and believes in it. His earliest is Alexander, last of June to July 1. 

 Heath and Salway come in October. Cold of past winter has not injured his 



