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States was very short. The New Ent;land crop was a total failure. It is 

 unusual for so nanyof the eatern peach sections to have crop failures in the 

 same year. 



According to the 1940 United States Census, there were in the 

 United States in 1939 47.1 million peach trees of bearing age and 21,7 mil- 

 lion not of bearin;;; age. Assuming that l/3 as many trees not of bearing age 

 as those of bearing age are required for normal replacements, there is an 

 excess of 6 million young trees. In another 4 or 5 years, these should be 

 at the peak of their production. This indicates a considerable increase in 

 peach production with its consequent influence on price just as trees planted . 

 in 1944 are coming into bearing. 



Therefore, prices in 1943 were far above normal because of un- 

 usual circumstances. Normal prices will tend to decline due to increased 

 production of young trees already planted and coming into bearing. 



However, the picture for the commercial grower in Massachusetts 

 is good if he uses his knov/ledge and skill to best advantages The number 

 of peach trees in Massachusetts, both bearing and nonbearing, is the lowest 

 in many years. Locally grown peaches have always found a ready market at 

 satisfactory prices » However, six or seven dollars a bushel cannot be ex- 

 pected from locally grown peaches if the national crop is large-, 



On the other hand, the novice better follow the time honored 

 advice to "make haste slowly," Just consider a few of the difficulties' 



1. The orchard site is very important. Massachusetts is on about the north- 

 ern limit of peach growing. Unless the peach orchard is vrell situated, 

 frequent v/interkilling of buds v/ill make tlie orchard unprofitable, and 

 killing of the trees may ruin it. All too frequently crops are lost 

 even in favorably situated orchards. 



2. Variety selection is important, A beautiful picture and glowing v/ords 

 guarantee nothing, 



3. Among the insects and diseases to be controlled are the following ser- 

 ious one SI 



a. The oriental fruit moth, which is the chief cause of wormy 

 peaches, has been in Massachusetts for many years. No ade- 

 quate control has been vrorked out for tliis pest. 



b. The peach tree borer is a serious pest. A single borer can 

 ruin a young tree before it reaches bearing age, 



&• The yellow-red virosis (X-disease) has come into Massachu- 

 setts recently. This virus disease can be controlled by elim- 

 inating all chokecherries in the vicinity of the peach orchard, 

 but this is no small job. 



d. The plum curculio, vfhich also makes peaches wormy, is some- 

 times controlled with arsenate of lead. However, peaches 

 are very susceptible to injury by the arsenic in this material. 



4. Peach orchards, except very small ones, require mechanical equipment for 

 their care. Under war conditions this equipment is high priced and hard 

 to get. 



5. It costs money to bring an orchard into bearing, A crop failure or two 

 at the wrong time may turn that gold mine into a millstone. 



