THE KANSAS PEACH. 137 



he is growing Hale's Early, Crawfords, Crosby, Elberta, etc. He planted his 

 trees eighteen to twenty feet apart, with center pruned out and branches cut 

 back; bruised and lengthy roots trimmed. His Hale's and Crawfords bear June 

 28. Curculio bothers early freestones; has not sprayed; borer is troublesome. 

 No disease ever affects his trees, but he says: "The grafting or budding in some 

 nurseries is poorly done, and causes a wax [gum] that starts a rot near the 

 ground" [probably borers]. Says corn is the best crop among the trees for two 

 years. Allows no live stock among the trees, and does not irrigate. Picks from 

 step-ladders, rejecting the overripe ones, and markets at Toronto, retailing at from 

 fifty cents to one dollar. Says that, if planted largely, he does not think they 

 would pay every year. Buds were badly killed by cold in February last. 



C. R. Davidson, Yates Center, Woodson county, has 125 budded and 300 

 seedlings; many of them planted from five to fifteen years, on light, sandy soil, 

 which he believes fair for peaches. He is growing Stump, Early and Late Craw- 

 fords, Old Mixon Free and Cling, Smock, and Early Rivers, and would add, for 

 family benefit. Heath and Honest John. He planted trees one year from the 

 bud, twenty-five feet east and west, and twenty feet north and south ; does not 

 cut back much ; smooths the root ends before planting. Curculio troubles his 

 early freestones: has sprayed some, but could not see much difference; borers 

 are bad; no diseases. Grows no crop among the trees after they are seven or 

 eight years old. Says calves are better than hogs among the trees. Does not 

 irrigate, and does not think peach growing would pay as a business there. Fruit- 

 buds were all killed in February last. 



