306 The Peach and Nectarine. 



young wood. It is, however, important to observe, that this does 

 not add to the hardiness of the fruit-buds. Small dwarfs are pro- 

 duced by budding on the Mirabelle, a diminutive variety of the 

 plum. The plum-stock is also sometimes employed to guard 

 against the peach-borer, a remedy often unsuccessful, as that insect 

 frequently attacks the peach above the place of union. On the 

 whole, the practice of working the peach on the plum is not regard- 

 ed by fruit culturists-with much favor. 



Unlike most other fruit-trees, the peach may be transplanted in 

 the spring next after the insertion of the bud, with scarcely a check 

 in its growth. 



Soils. It may be observed as a general rule, that soils affording 

 good farm crops, and with a well drained sub-soil, are well adapted 

 to peach orchards. On a strong loam, the trees grow with more 

 uniform luxuriance and live longer than on light, sandy, or gravelly 

 soils. Even a compact clay may be made suitable for the peach by 

 regular and thorough underdraining, and mellow cultivation. On 

 the light sands of New Jersey and Delaware, orchards succeed and 

 bear well for a time, but they do not endure so long as where the 

 soil has a considerable admixture of heavier ingredients. 



In transplanting for an orchard, the practice of shortening-in the 

 shoots, described in the chapter on transplanting, should be invaria- 

 bly attended to, as it is of the greatest importance for the safe 

 removal of peach-trees. Trees two years from the bud, where this 

 practice is observed, will be found better for Northern latitudes than 

 those of one year only. Twenty feet apart is the common distance 

 for orchards ; but as better crops and better fruit is obtained where 

 the heads are kept well shortened-in, and consequently within less 

 compass, a distance of twelve or fifteen feet only will be found sum" 

 cient. 



While the trees are small, the intermediate spaces between the 

 rows may be cultivated with low-hoed crops ; but afterwards it will 

 be found best to keep the ground perfectly clean and mellow by 

 ploughing and harrowing. Where soils are very shallow, top-dress- 

 ing with manure in autumn, and frequent harrowing, have been 

 found best ; the roots being thus brought near the surface, deep 

 ploughing proves injurious. But where soils are deep and fertile, 

 ploughing may be occasionally resorted to without injury. 



The principle on which rotation in crops is founded, dictates that 

 two crops of peach-trees, whether in the nursery or orchard, should 

 not be grown successively on the same piece of ground ; diminished 

 growth in all such instances being the result. 



