11 



It is not only a question of greater difficulty in cultivat- 

 ing and in harvesting the fruit but in a dry season the trees 

 will suffer more from drought than trees planted farther 

 apart. In New Jersey we also believe that an important 

 feature of good orchard management is to maintain the 

 organic matter in the soil and this is most commonly done by 

 means of cover crops. Where the trees are set as close as 

 15 feet it is impossible to produce a good cover crop each 

 year after the trees come into bearing. Soil conditions and 

 the locality determine the maximum size of peach trees, but 

 from my experience I belive that 20 feet each way is a good 

 distance to plant trees. 



There is one orchard at Rancocas, New Jersey with 

 trees set 22 feet apart each way and the branches touched 

 about the sixth year. This orchard has also produced some 

 remarkable crops. 



Have sufficient distance between the trees to allow of 

 good cultivation, the growing of a cover crop and economy 

 in harvesting the fruit. 



A close planted orchard must have special attention, 

 for if it is negelceted, even for a brief time, trouble is cer- 

 tain to occur. 



VARIETIES 



The question of what varieties one should plant com- 

 mercially is a most important one and success or failure com- 

 monly depends upon the selection that is made. 



In 1899 an inquiry among the peach growers of North- 

 ern New Jersey showed such varieties as Crawford Late, 

 Mountain Rose, Old Mixon, Stump and Reeves' Favorite to 

 lead in popular favor. To-day, the first five to be mentioned 

 would be Elberta, Carman, Belle of Georgia, Champion and 

 Hiley with Lola, Iron Mountain and Fox Seedling also in 

 favor. 



The New Jersey station has about 80 varieties under 

 test at the Vin eland orchard, 40 of which have already 

 fruited a number of times. 



The varieties which have proved to be the hardiest dur- 

 ing winters of low temperature are Greensboro, Waddell, 

 Carman, Lola, Alton, Early Wheeler, Hiley, Belle of Georgia 

 and others of this type. Elberta, Frances and Champion 



