THE CULTIVATION AND DISEASES OF THE PEACH. 65 



of our first large planting, the trees were given the whole use of 

 the land, but, in order to get the whole three thousand in one solid 

 block, we had to plant some four hundred of them in raspberries, 

 both red and black, the first year taking out only one hill of the 

 raspberries to make room for the tree, and the next year 

 taking out four hills, one on either side. A double quautit}' of 

 manure was put on — enough, as we thought, for both raspberries 

 and peaches, yet at the end of the second year it beca'ije apparent 

 that the two could not be successfully grown together, and one or 

 the other must go ; and as the raspberries were turning in cash 

 each year, we concluded it must be the peaches. Still we gave 

 them their regular rations and watched for the result. 



At the end of the third 3'ear, the trees were not one-third the 

 size of those near by having the ground to themselves. The next 

 winter killing one variety of the raspberries, we dug out the roots 

 and thus gave the peaches a chance, and right well did they 

 respond to it ; yet the first case of yellows was among that lot of 

 trees, and what few doubtful ones there are on the whole farm 

 today are confined to those sections where raspberries or some 

 other crop had been grown among the trees and had the first 

 claim to the land and apparently took it first, last, and all the 

 time. 



In Dutchess and Orange Counties, N. Y., large peach orchards 

 were planted some six or eight years ago, many of them in fields 

 of raspberries, the partial shade of the trees being rather a benefit 

 to the raspberries than otherwise, but where are those trees 

 today ? Fifty per cent of them are dead with the j'ellows, and 

 the balance of them are in such a sickly condition that they are 

 very likely to follow them soon. Even if they should live to produce 

 a crop, it can be only fruit of inferior size and quality and not 

 worthy of the name of peaches. 



Successful peach culture depends first on health}'' trees ; 

 secondly upon a proper temperature in winter, and lastly upon 

 what varieties we plant. As to the first, the leaf curl, the borer, 

 and the yellows are the chief causes of unhealthiness. The curl 

 is of little account and can be got rid of by stimulating a rapid 

 growth wherever it is seen. The borer has killed more trees than 

 all other causes combined ; more than three-fourths of the cases 

 of so-called yellows can be laid to it, and yet, with a little care, 

 he is not such a bad fellow to handle, — a sort of pest that needs 

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