THE 



growth, but also' has little fruit spurs, like the plum, which may be 

 renewed by shortening. The nectarine is simply classed as a smooth- 

 skinned peach, but is usually rather more delicate and difficult to raise. 



The peach and apricot, particularly the hardy varieties of the latter, 

 promise to succeed over wide sections of the West. Some of the Russian 

 varieties at Gardenside, are, at this writing, heavily loaded with fruit 

 buds. The so-called iron-clad peach trees are being tested on our grounds, 

 said to be as hardy as the Ben Davis apple tree. But time is needed to 

 sustain this claim. 



For points on the culture of the fruits under this heading readers are 

 referred to the paper of C. W. Steele, Esq., on "Peach and Apricot 

 Culture " and to the notes from Mr. Wade. 



PEACH AND APRICOT CULTURE IN MESA COUNTY, COLORADO, 

 BY C. W. STEELE. 



Given a suitable climate for the producing of semi-tropical fruits, the 

 water supply under absolute control, a good market, easy of access, and 

 you have the conditions of successful fruit growing to make glad the 

 heart of the horticulturist. The portion of Mesa County adapted to the 

 perfecting of the finer fruits is comprised in the valleys of the Grand 

 River, White Water, Kannah, Roan, and Plateau Creeks. 



The first planting of peach trees in what is now Mesa County was in 

 the spring of 1883. These trees bore fruit the next year and abundantly 

 during the season of 1885 and 1886, making three "peach years" in suc- 

 cession. This year (1887) owing to the late severe frosts, peaches have 

 proven a partial failure. Only a few orchards in especially favored 

 localities having fruited. 



Such encouragement has been given the fruit growers, that peach and 

 apricot orchards from a few trees to eighty acres in extent are now com- 

 mon, and the Mesa County horticulturist looks forward with confidence to 

 the time when the markets of Colorado will be largely supplied from the 

 orchards of Mesa County. 



The best time to plant is a mooted question, but our experience 

 inclines us to favor fall planting, from the first to the middle of November. 

 We have never lost a peach or apricot tree from winter killing, and the 

 trees make a much larger growth the first season than when planted in 

 the spring. But above all we earnestly recommend would-be horticultur- 

 ists, don't procrastinate, don't wait from fall to spring and spring to fall, 



