THE KANSAS PEACH. 127 



we learn in the school of experience. The result of pruning depends upon the 

 time when it is done. If you wish to promote vegetative growth and keep the 

 trees in a vigorous state, then prune in the fall or winter. Cut out all interlacing 

 twigs, sapsuckers, etc. This will reinvigorate the tree, and new wood will be 

 rapidly made, if the tree has not received any permanent injury from disease, and 

 fruit production will keep pace with vegetative development." The earliest are 

 York and Amsden, in June, Alexander in July, then Hale's and Early Crawford. 

 The latest is Crawford's Late, in October. Says the extreme cold of February, 

 1899, killed all the old seedling trees, and did no injury to the young seedling 

 trees. Says his peaches often cook on the sunny side while on the tree. Cur- 

 culio troubles his early varieties; has sprayed unsuccessfully. As to the yellows 

 he says: "Peach yellows does not exist here to any great extent. Occasion- 

 ally we see a few trees so affected, and such as are affected make slow growth 

 and bear only premature fruit. It exists mostly in orchards not cultivated 

 for years. The only remedy that is known to me to insure against the 

 yellows is the liberal use of the knife, and if that fails, apply the axe to 

 the root of the tree, and burn it. The life of such a tree is an unprofitable 

 one. It does not pay, either as a fruit or wood producer. Peach rot has 

 most seriously affected our peaches for years past. The earlier varieties are 

 worse than the later, probably on account of more moisture. I sprayed all 

 of .my budded trees at the same time that I did my apple and pear trees, and 

 with the same solution. Spraying was continued at intervals of ten days through- 

 oat the season. In no case was there any noticeable difference, so far ns rot was 

 concerned, between treated and untreated trees. For a year or two I sprayed 

 with London purple, using one pound to 1'20 gallons of water. Then, again, I 

 tried one pound of London purple, one gallon of kerosene, a half gallon of crude 

 cxrbolic acid and five pounds of slaked lime to the same quantity of water as 

 above, with no good result. The trees have gone up in smoke and ashes." He 

 grows corn among his peach trees, and says: "Plant both ways, and cultivate at 

 least four times during the season, in the right time of the year. The corn will 

 shelter the trees from wind and sun. Keep this up until after bearing com- 

 mences, and give the ground a 'right smart chance' of stable manure annually; 

 then you'll have big corn, big trees, luscious fruit, and big success." He will 

 allow hogs — well ringed — among his trees. He picks carefully and markets 

 openly in bushel boxes at retail near home, culling out small and damaged ones. 

 He receives from twenty-five to fifty cents per bushel, and leaves all culls on the 

 ground. He does not believe it would pay to plant largely in his vicinity for 

 commercial purposes. 



Clias. Diiiiiart, Murdock, Butler county; thirty-one years in Kansas; with 

 200 bearing peach trees — all choice budded fruit — growing on sandy soil, which 

 he believes is the best, especially with north slope. His varieties are Hale, Ams- 

 den, Arkansas Traveler, Early and Late Crawfords, and Stump. Has discarded 

 all seedling fruits. He prefers two-year-old trees, set from ten to sixteen feet 

 apart, cutting away all the top and trimming the roots to correspond. His Ams- 

 dens come in about June 1.5; Late Crawfords about the last of September. Says 

 curculio troubles his late freestones. Borers also trouble his trees. Has no dis- 

 eased trees. Grows his trees among other fruit-trees, with no crop between or 

 under them. Sells in orchard at from twenty-five to fifty cents per bushel. Lets 

 refuse lie and rot. Says they would not pay if planted largely there. Says " my 

 trees and fruit-buds are all right; not injured by severe weather of February, 

 1899. My neighbors claim half or more of their peaches are dead." 



