PEACHES. CULTIVATION. 201 



WARD'S LATE FREE. Large and fine; highly esteemed 



in Pennsylvania. October. 



WELD'S FREE. Large ; round ; excellent. September. 

 WHITE MAGDALEN. Large ; white and red ; musky ; 



good. August. 



CULTIVATION. 



The peach tree is usually raised by planting the stones 

 in autumn. Some, however, preserve them in soil exposed 

 to the frosts of winter. In spring they are cracked, and 

 either sown in beds or planted in the nursery, in rows four 

 feet asunder, and about a foot distant in the row. In the 

 same year or the year following, they are inoculated. The 

 peach tree is usually inoculated on the peach stock. They 

 are, however, sometimes propagated on the almond ; some- 

 times on the plum stock. Mozard, according to Loudon, 

 " prefers plum stocks, where the soil is strong and black ; " 

 and Dubreuil recommends a plum stock for a clayey soil, 

 and the almond stock for such as are light and sandy. 

 The same opinion is held by the Montreuil cultivators. 

 At Montreuil, we understand, the plum stock is not used, 

 because the soil is dry. Use only the peach stock or al- 

 mond on such soils. 



Peaches thrive best near the banks of rivers, and espe- 

 cially those of brackish water. The curculiones are stated 

 to avoid a moist atmosphere and salt air on the borders of 

 rivers or the sea. 



SOIL, DISTANCE. The most suitable soil for the peach 

 tree is a rich, sandy loam: a light soil answers well. The 

 soil of Montreuil, as above stated, is dry. The peach tree 

 will not flourish on a cold, stiff, wet soil. On such a soil 

 they may grow vigorously, but they produce but little fruit, 

 and that of ordinary quality. Some assert that they are 

 more uniformly productive on the north side of hills, as it 

 prevents their too early advancement before the vernal 

 frosts are past. Ten or twelve feet asunder is deemed a 

 good distance for the peach tree, in the colder latitudes; 

 but in warmer climes, a greater distance is required. 



