215 FRUIT 



GROWING 



creases the total yield. It tends to check injuri- 

 ous insects and to prevent the spread of disease. 

 Systematic thinning overcomes the tendency of 

 fruit trees to alternate " apple years " and poor 

 crops. It helps to establish a medium yield which 

 averages more than the alternate abundance and 

 scarcity both in quantity and in profit to the 

 grower. 



The peach crop is next in importance to the 

 apple crop, and location is the chief considera- 

 tion in planting an orchard. The orchards giv- 

 ing the largest returns are in Connecticut, Dela- 

 ware, New Jersey, Maryland, Virginia and 

 Georgia. For large crops it is well to choose 

 land near large bodies of water as the tempera- 

 ture of the water prevents too early budding, and 

 also delays killing frosts. While sandy, porous 

 soil is best, peaches may be successfully raised in 

 clay soil if plenty of humus be provided. 



Some peach orchards are very profitable. Mr. 

 Cornelius P. Swain, of Bridgeville, Del., says 

 he picked 1100 baskets of Elberta peaches from 

 208 trees growing on about two acres, and sold 

 this fruit for cash at the Bridgeville Station for 



