TREES AND THE GARDEN. 



211 



the growing of peaches is the disease " peach yel- 

 lows." No cure is known for this disease, and if the 

 infected trees are not dug up and burned, the disease 

 will spread and destroy the whole orchard. 



Peaches grow to perfection on a rich, sandy loam, 

 often giving profitable crops in four or five years after 

 planting. The trees demand careful cultivation, prun- 

 ing and spraying to produce the best crops. The fruit 

 should also be thinned so that no two peaches stand 



A PEACH ORCHARD. 



closer on the same branch than 5 or 6 inches. This 

 thinning results in larger and better fruit, and also in- 

 duces annual bearing. 



The Elberta is one of the most hardy, productive 

 and cosmopolitan varieties, and is planted more than 

 any other one variety. 



Plums. The plums cultivated in this country con- 

 sist of three different classes: European, Japanese and 

 American. These classes vary greatly as to their 

 adaptability to the various climatic regions. In the 



