4 MASS. EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETIN 399 



water drain off readily, and with no bare slope above, from which cold air can flow 

 down through the orchard. Protection from the pre\^alling winter winds is 

 advantageous. In Massachusetts no peach orchard should be planted more than 

 1200 feet above sea level. 



Since an ideal site is seldom available, it is usually necessary to select the 

 nearest to the ideal from among several fairly good sites. To help in making 

 a choice it will pa}' the grower to compare the temperatures prevailing on diffei - 

 ent sites on several winter mornings when the temperature is below zero. The 

 thermometers used should be compared so that any differences in readings can 

 be taken into account. On a still morning, when there is no wind to keep the 

 air thoroughly mixed, there may be a difference of 6°F. or nxore on two adjacent 

 sites difTering no more than fifty feet in elevation. When the temperature falls 

 as low as -14^., a variation of only two or three degrees may mean the differ- 

 ence between a good crop or a crop failure. 



Peach trees succeed en a .wide variety of soils from medium clays to very 

 light, sandy loams, but they thrive best on light, sandy or gravelly loams. Since 

 peach trees can not stand "wet feet," the soil must be well drained regardless of 

 type. A desirable subsoil has two or three feet of light porous material to give 

 good drainage and a more compact layer below to retain moisture. Although 

 peaches will grow on poor soils, they thrive much better on soils more fertile 

 than those ordinarily used for apples. 



Varieties 



Peach varieties arc changing so rapidly that those considered of commercial 

 importance five years ago are practically discarded today. Many new varieties 

 are being introduced and a number of these look better than the older varieties 

 of the same season. Therefore, the progressive peach grower should try the 

 more promising of these new varieties so that he may have first-hand inforniation 

 on which to base plans for orchard replacement or expansion. 



AUGUST -SEPTEMBER 



S 15 21 1 & 15 ZZ 29 



Marigold 

 Greensboro 

 Oriole 



Golden Jubilee 

 GoldLn Globe 

 1 lalehaven 

 Goldeneast 

 Belle of Georgia 

 Elberta 

 J. H. Hale 



Chart I. .\vcrage Ripening Season of Heacli Varidics in Massachusetts. The exact dates will 

 vary from year to year, .-ind in some years the order of ripenini; may be cliangcd. 



