PEACHES 



1531 



showed further the similarity of form 

 and habits of the trees, and claimed that 

 in the development of the almond the pit 

 had been Improved, and in the case of 

 the peach the pulp had been improved. 

 It has generally been conceded that the 

 peach originated in Persia, hence its 

 name Prunvis persica. Later investiga- 

 tions made by DeCandolIe point to China 

 as the place of origin. Wherever it may 

 have originated it has come to be propa- 

 gated in most of the temperate climates 

 of the globe, especially in the United 

 States. The seeds are sometimes used in 

 the manufacture of oil instead of the 

 seed of the bitter almond. Its leaves, 

 flowers and bark are often used as medi- 

 cines. 



The Tree 

 The peach tree is irregularly formed 

 with spreading branches and grows to a 

 height of from 15 to 20 feet. While 

 young it is a very rapid grower; but it 

 is short lived, generally from 15 to 30 

 years, with the latter part of that time 

 in a decaying condition. Its life may 

 be prolonged by starting the head of 

 the tree close to the ground when first 

 planted. Then when the period of decay 

 begins cut off the old wood, a certain 

 proportion, say one-third each year, and 

 allow the young sprouts to grow upon 

 the old stock. This plan is very suc- 

 cessful with certain varieties, provided 

 the head of the tree has been formed at 

 or very near the ground. The trouble 

 with the life of the peach tree seems to 

 be that the heart of the tree dies, leaving 

 a decaying inner trunk. This can be 

 obviated by low heading; for the trunk, 

 if very short, holds its vigor much longer 

 than if headed some distance above the 

 ground. The same rule holds good with 

 apples, except the apple is much longer 

 lived than the peach. See article on 

 Pruning under Apples. 



The Soil 



The soil in wliich the peach thrives 

 best is a light, loose, rather sandy loam, 

 although it is adaptable and adjusts itself 

 to varied conditions. It requires less 

 humus and less nitrogen than is required 

 for apples. In fact it is better it there 



is not a large amount of nitrogen or 

 humus in peach land, because they in- 

 cline too much to stimulate wood 

 growth rather than fruitage. Prof. Er- 

 win F. Smith, Washington, D. C, on the 

 adaptation of peaches to certain soils, 

 says: "There are many kinds of soil in 

 whicli orchards can be grown success- 

 fully. At present there are commercial 

 orchards in New England on stony and 

 gravelly soils of poor character; in Mary- 

 land, Delaware and New Jersey, on fertile 

 loams and on very light pine sands; in 

 Pennsylvania, on mountain soils derived 

 from limestones and sandstones; in 

 South Carolina and Georgia, on light 

 pine sands and on stiff red clay lands 

 derived from the local decomposition of 

 granites; in Michigan, on rather heavy 

 clay hills, and also successfully on loams 

 and light pine sands, even on beach 

 sand so light as to be blown about by 

 the winds; in Northwestern New York, 

 on quite a variety of clays, gravels and 

 sands forming the old lake bottom of 

 Lake Ontario; in Florida, on flat pine 

 sands; in Kansas, on deep black prairie 

 soils. On all of these soils there are now 

 growing very successful and profitable 

 peach orchards. In general it may be 

 said that the peach prefers light, warm, 

 well-drained, sandy or loamy land with 

 a clay subsoil, although some very suc- 

 cessful orchards have been grown upon 

 rather heavy clays and many on deep 

 sands. Muck soils, heavy clays reten- 

 tive of moisture, and in general all wet 

 lands and flat, frosty lands are espe- 

 cially to be avoided." 



It might be added further that peaches 

 are grown successfully under varied con- 

 ditions of soil and climate in California, 

 where perhaps more peaches .are grown 

 for the markets than in any other state 

 except Georgia; in Oregon, Washington 

 and Idaho in the volcanic ash of the 

 hills and the alluvial soils of the valleys; 

 in the Rocky Mountain section, and un- 

 der almost all conditions except that of 

 severe cold. 



The Knot 



The root system of the peach is what 

 would be called lateral rather than per- 



