1078 THE FRUIT INDUSTRY IN NEW YORK STATE 



a crop of corn or any tilled crop a year before the trees are set, 

 sowing clover or other legumes at the last cultivation of the crop. 

 I consider it very important to fit the land properly before plant- 

 ing the orchard; far better wait a year than to set in poorly pre- 

 pared land. 



VARIETIES 



With the orchard site selected and the land properly fitted, we 

 must decide on what varieties to set. Here again, a poor selec- 

 tion means failure, and no amount of work can atone for a 

 mistake. If the peaches are grown for shipment to distant mar- 

 kets, enough of each variety should be planted to produce car- 

 lots; if the markets are closer, or express rates are not too high, 

 more varieties can be planted and smaller lots shipped. 



The larger markets prefer a yellow peach; local markets can 

 often be educated to take the better quality white fruit. As a 

 rule, the white varieties are better bearers and more hardy than 

 the yellow sorts. A variety may succeed in one section and be 

 an utter failure in another, hence no list of varieties can be 

 given. Find out what varieties do well in neighboring orchards 

 and confine the large plantings to these; have a trial orchard and 

 test out all new and untried varieties before planting them on a 

 large scale. 



DISTANCE BETWEEN TREES 



Peach trees are set from fifteen to twenty-two feet apart each 

 way, depending on soil and methods of pruning. Generally, they 

 are planted too close. If set a good distance apart it is not only 

 easier to care for the orchard, but the fruit develops better, as 

 each tree has more air and sunshine and more moisture for the 

 roots. If the land is reasonably level it can be marked out with 

 a marker and furrows plowed each way, the trees being set at the 

 intersections. If rough, the orchard must be lined out, sighting 

 practiced and a measuring pole used. Whichever method is fol- 

 lowed, the rows should be as straight as possible, for if crook( 

 the young trees are more likely to be injured in cultivation. 



IMPORTANCE OF GOOD STOCK AND LOW HEADING 



Nursery stock should be fresh and in good condition; if ii 

 .jured by freezing or drying out at any time, it is very difficull 



