Ill 



SOILS AND EXPOSURES 



THE American fruit books have always promul- 

 gated the theory that the peach tree requires a light 

 soil. In fact, a sandy soil has often been mentioned 

 as the most desirabe type, though this has nearly 

 always been modified to exclude poor, dry, sandy 

 land and such as is deficient in plant food. Prob- 

 ably this represents the popular conception of good 

 peach land, but the experience of leading peach 

 growers in the United States in recent years does 

 not altogether bear out this theory. 



As a matter of fact, the peach tree does prefer a 

 reasonably light, warm soil. A fair comparison 

 would be made by saying that the peach should 

 have soil somewhat warmer and lighter than that 

 required for the apple. No fruit tree will flourish 

 on soil that is wet. Proper drainage is absolutely 

 indispensable. Both upper soil and subsoil must 

 be free from water, and an impervious subsoil any- 

 where within 2 or 3 feet of the surface will render 

 the land worthless for peach growing. While it is 

 true that peaches have been grown to some extent 

 in light, sandy soil, such locations have been suc- 

 cessful only when the soil contained also a reason- 

 ably large amount of available plant food. 



A study of the situation as it prevails throughout 

 the whole United States shows clearly that the 

 lighter, warmer soils are more successful in the 

 northern states, while farther south heavier soils 

 are more commonly chosen. This fact appeals to 

 horticultural judgment as being sound in theory 



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