l/)4 



THE GENESEE FARMER. 



the most improved kinds together, aud he is left to 

 choose. In short, Agricultural Fairs are the great 

 repositories of knowledge to the farmer, where he 

 may improve bis own coodition by taking advantage 

 of the skill and genius of his bretheren. When 

 properly conducted, they are among the most valua- 

 ble institutions of the country. David Street. 

 Salem, Ohio. 



ON THE CULTIVATION OF PEAS. 



There are several varieties of peas cultivated in 

 this country, of which we think the large Black-eyed 

 Marrovrfat has the preference; it prpduces as well as 

 any other, and is decidedly preferable for cooking, 

 and commands a higher price in market, being worth 

 at the present time two dollars per bushel. 



Although it must be admitted that peas thrive 

 best on a loose, well pulverized soil, yet they do well 

 on some of the heavier soils. We generally get good 

 peas on land that will produce corn or wheat. S.vard 

 land almost invariably producing good crops, pro- 

 vided it is turned over in the fall and plort'ed deep, 

 thoroughly cultivated in the spring, and the peas 

 sown as early as the land will permit, not less than 

 three bushels per acre, well harrowed in and rolled 

 down. They will yield from fifteen to thirty bushels 

 per acre, aud will be ready to harvest early, leaving 

 the land in fine condition for winter wheat or rye. 



Would not your Genesee farmers do well to turn un- 

 der their clover in the fall, sow peas early in the spring, 

 aud follow with wheat, instead of summer-fallowing, 

 and get their pea crop almost clear gain. If sown 

 thick, say four bushels per acre, they will leave the 

 land when harvested almost as clean and mellow as 

 a summer-fallow. H. H. Taylor. 



East Rodman, Jeff. Co., JV. Y. 



ON THE CULTIVATION OF THE PEACH. 



For many years past the dwellers in Western New 

 York have relied upon their peach trees to furnish 

 annually a full supply of the choicest specimens of 

 this most delicious of all fruit; and in former times 

 this result seldom failed. The comparative exemption 

 of this region from late spring frosts, and very severe 

 cold in winter, tiave contributed much towards this 

 state of things; and perhaps, more even than these, is 

 the fact that we have been free from the destructive 

 etfects of yellows, which reduces the lifetime of orch- 

 ards south ot us to a few (say four or five) years du- 

 ration. Id this county it is not now difficult to find 

 trees thirty years old and healthy still. 



Of late years, we are aware of a very decided fall- 

 ing otf in the productiveness of the trees, and also in 

 the vigor of their growth; the trees do not retain that 

 perfection of health in all cases which we formerly 

 saw, and we look to the future with much solicitude. 



The remarks which we have now to offer will have 

 reference to cultivation of the fruit in our own region, 

 and be somewhat affected by the facts above nieu- 

 tioned, but which we have not space to dwell upon. 

 To succeed well in growing peaches, it is necessary 

 jSret of all to secure a favorabfe location for the orch- 

 ard; this should be upon land having a very thorough 

 natural underdrainage; if sandy loam can be had it 

 is preferable. A very thin sand will not give best 

 quality of peache ^ or most durable trees, but a warm, 

 dry and rather rich soil should if possible be secured. 



The earliest varieties should have warmest exposure 

 to bring the fruit on in good season. Secun- tlrifty, 

 one or two year old budded trees, of a few well p oved 

 varieties which will ripen i:i succession, from theearli- 

 est good hardy varieties, to the latest that is aire to 

 ripen off handsome, well flavored fruit. Thoe are 

 many kinds of good peaches which are too un-jroduc- 

 tive to be worth planting, except to thecuricus ama- 

 teur. If praticable secure the judgment of an expe- 

 rienced man in making up your list, and buy trees 

 where you will be sure to get the kinds correct. Plant 

 the trees in April, or the first of May, shortening the 

 heads well back, and using care that the roots are 

 never exposed to wind or frost. 



The land should be deeply plowed before planting, 

 and cultivated with some hoed crop all the time un- 

 til the trees are in bearing, when no crop should be 

 taken off, but the land kept clean and mellow with 

 plow and cultivator, manuring with stable manure if 

 the trees are not vigorous enough. Avoid planting 

 too closely — twenty feet apart each way is near enough, 

 and twenty-four is better. 



When the trees come into bearing do not spare a 

 little pains in thinning the fruit on very heavily load- 

 ed trees, do this when the fruit is half grown and the 

 superior size andViuality will be reward enough; over- 

 loaded trees always have insipid fruit. 



Examine the collar of every tree in June and see 

 that all the grubs are dug out, follow them under the 

 bark with a stout knife and kill them. They destroy 

 many trees, but never give them the "yellows." 



Peach trees require but little pruning besides the 

 removal of dead wood; we do not approve of the sys- 

 tem of " shortening in," except in case of very ram- 

 pant limbs, which disturb the proper form of the 

 head. The fourth summer after planting a fine crop 

 may be expected, and with good caie ten years of 

 bearing ought to be secured from hardy sorts. 



The obstacles to peach culture here are mainly 

 the curling of the leaf, which occurs just after the 

 commencement of the growth of leaf and blossom, 

 and the destructive effects of cold upon the tree 

 and fruit. I am not satisfied that the cnrl is not 

 caused by the cold of winter so affecting the buds 

 as to prevent a healthy development of leaf. But 

 whatever be the cause, the effect upon the tree is 

 very injurious, causing the loss of foliage and a 

 large sliare of the fruit. If it be very severe, the 

 tree languishes for a considerable time, aud only 

 regains its vigor after a new growth of leaves and 

 wood. I am not able to give any remedy for this 

 disease ; but the best counsel I can give is to plant 

 only those sorts least affected hy it, (for there is a 

 great difference,) and to plant trees enough to an- 

 swer as a protection to one another, it being always 

 ti>und that detached trees are far Avorse affected 

 than those standing in the orchards; indeed, this 

 has become so manifest that we cannot lielp obser- 

 ving crops upon the peach orchards, while our g;arden 

 trees are entirely destitute of fruit. The effects of 

 winter and spring frosts upon peach trees Ave have 

 so little power to avert, that we can only say, plant 

 and run the risk. The following varieties answer 

 very well for the cultivator for market purposes : 



EirlvYork, fserrated leaf,) 25 



Crawford's Early, 25 



Olfimixon Freestone, 25 



Olilniixon Cling, ,.,,« 10 



Eed Cheek Melocoton, ,..,,.,.., 15 



iCO 



