100 SALES OF PEAKS. 



In looking over the sales of pears in the New 

 York market, I find the prices for summer varieties, 

 are affected by the peach crop, ranging lower when 

 peaches are abundant, than they do, if peaches are 

 scarce and high. This of course will not influence 

 fall pears, and there is consequently less fluctuation 

 in the prices of the later varieties. 



The accompanying list (page 101) fully demon- 

 strates to the fruit grower this important fact, that 

 the varieties most extensively cultivated have stead- 

 ily advanced in price. In 1858 we sold Duchesse 

 for $1.50 per basket, or $7.50 per barrel. Last year 

 we sold them at $6 per basket, or $30 per barrel. In 

 1867 the same quality of fruit sold readily at $20 per 

 barrel. That year the crop was an average one, ex- 

 cept in a few localities. 



When a young orchard comes into bearing say 

 five years from the time of planting the trees will 

 produce from $50 to $75 per acre. The trees at this 

 stage require strict attention ; some may be inclined 

 to overbear, others to make too much wood. From 

 the former, a part of the fruit set should be removed 

 before it attains the size of a walnut. If too much 

 fruit is permitted to remain on young trees, it will 

 take several years of careful management to repair 

 the damage done. When they are making too much 

 wood, and they are not inclined to produce fruit, a 



