HORTICULTURE 217 



inally budded. Prepare the soil by thorough plowing and harrowing 

 as soon as the land is in condition in the spring. 



Lay out the orchard in good form, leaving plenty of distance 

 between the outside rows of trees and any enclosing fences, hedge- 

 rows or woodlands. Set the trees from seventeen to eighteen feet 

 apart each way for average conditions ; upon rich sandy loams twenty 

 feet would be the best distance. Where a system of close pruning 

 is practiced, sixteen feet may prove sufficient but is not recommended 

 for the average grower. Plant the trees as early as the land can be 

 properly prepared. Set the trees firmly and in straight rows. Plant 

 them slightly deeper than they stood in the nursery. Unless the soil 

 has previously been limed, apply from 2,000 to 3,000 pounds of 

 ground limestone or ground oyster shell lime to the sandy soils, and 

 2,000 pounds per acre of burnt lime to the heavier soils previous to 

 setting the trees into the orchard. It is recommended that all fer- 

 tilizers be applied broadcast and plowed under early in the spring. 

 Vegetable crops may be grown between the rows of newly planted 

 trees the first season, if desired, but any crop which will prevent thor- 

 ough cultivation to destroy weeds and conserve moisture will prove 

 injurious to the trees. 



Under average conditions a crop may be grown between the 

 rows of trees in the peach orchard the first year that will at least pay 

 for the expense of the cultivation of the orchard. The initial cost 

 of the trees, pruning, "heeling in," setting and leveling the orchard 

 by harrowing should not exceed a maximum of $20 to $25 per; 

 acre, unless land is exceedingly stony. Do not summer prune the 

 trees the first season unless they are making an exceptionally strong 

 growth, and then only to .correct irregular growth. 



Upon average soils trees of the variety of Elberta should make 

 an average total growth of at least from 300 to 400 inches, and large 

 trees under such conditions will often make a total growth of from 

 600 to 800 inches. Vigorous, rapid growing varieties, such as Early 

 and Late Crawford, Carman and others, should make an average 

 total growth of from 400 to 500 inches. Peach trees set early upon 

 rich soils sometimes make a total growth of from 1,200 to 1,300 

 inches if well cultivated. A cover crop should be sown in the orchard 

 to act as a cover to the soil during the winter to prevent washing and 

 leaching and to furnish organic matter and to make plant-food more 

 available. Just before the ground freezes in the fall the soil should 

 be mounded up about the trees to ensure against winter injury to the 

 bark at the collar. An orchard that is poorly planted and carelessly 

 managed the first year is often an irregular, unprofitable orchard for 

 its entire existence. 



Summary. The first important operation in the peach orchard 

 the second season is the pruning of the trees. A few important prin- 

 ciples of plant growth are appropriate to precede a specific discussion 

 of the pruning of one-year-old peach trees. To secure successive 

 yields of fine fruit there must be a proper balance between the pro- 

 cesses of vegetative growth and fruit production. Excessive leaf and 

 wood growth is always at the expense of fruit production. Abundant 



