94 



GENEvSEE FARMER. 



April. 



HORTICULTURAL DEPARTMENT. 



BY P. BARRY. 



Culture of the Peaeli. 



The Peach is an important fruit in our region. 

 Our soil and climate are highly favorable ibr its 

 culture, and tliere is a great and increasing de- 

 mand, with high prices, for the fruit. We are 

 glad to know that fruit growers are turning their 

 attention to it. By choosing a proper site lor or- 

 chards, and selecting suitable varieties. Peaches 

 may be grown here with as great success, as any 

 where in the Union. 



We have seen, here, and have raised in our 

 own grounds, as large crops (for the age and 

 size of the trees,) and as large and fair speci- 

 mens of fruit, as we have ever seen in New Jer- 

 sey or Delaware. The peach worm is the chief 

 difficulty we have to oppose, and that is not a se- 

 rious one — neither does it trouble us to any con- 

 siderable extent. 



The west or north sides of hills are preferable 

 for Peach orchards ; there they are less subject 

 to injurious freezing or thawing in winter and 

 spring. They cease growing sooner in the au- 

 tumn, and consequently ripen their wood better, 

 and the fruit buds are more likely to escape 

 spring frosts. In our vicinity, however, good 

 crops are produced in any situation wliere the 

 soil is right, and due attention given to culture. 



A light, dry, fertile soil is the best, and as the 

 peach exhausts the soil rapidly, tliough not re- 

 quiring great richness, it should receive a dress- 

 ing of compost, manure, ashes, &c., now and 

 again, to keep the trees in a thrifty, growing state. 



Trees one year old from the inoculation are 

 the safest and best for transplanting. The Peach 

 grows rapidly, and the fourth year after planting 

 a good crop may be reasonably expected. The 

 proper distance, in orchards, is 20 to 25 feet, or 

 about 100 trees to an acre. 



The following are a few of the best varieties 

 we know for general culture, and would make 

 a nice collection. 



Sweet Water — a large, beautiful white Peach ; 

 a good grower and bearer ; ripens early in Aug. 



Early Tillotson — a fine early Peach, but the 

 tree is very liable to mildew, which is a great 

 objection to it ; early in August. 



Crawford'' s Early — large and fine, one of the 

 best yellow Peaches ; middle of August. 



Yclluio Alberge — a very fine, old variety, well 

 known and greatly esteemed here ; a great bear- 

 er ; middle to end of August. 



Royal Kensijj^fon — a large and fine peach ; 

 first rate ; end of August. 



Cooledge''s Eavoritc — large size and fine fla- 

 vor ; grows and bears well ; September. 



Jacques'' Rare Ripe — one of the largest and 

 finest Peaches ; bears abundantly, and is of first 

 quality ; September. 



Nagle's Favorite — very fine ; Aug. and Sept. 



Red Rare Ripe — a standard sort ; old and 

 well known. 



Craioford'' s Superb — one of the largest and 

 finest yellow Peaches known ; latter part of Sept, 



Red Cheek Malacaton — fine old variety ; well 

 known. 



Snoio Peach — first rale ; liardy and produc- 

 tive ; fruit remarkably delicate and handsome in 

 appearance ; September. 



White Imperial — Large and delicious ; tree is 

 hardy and a vigorous grower ; fu-st rate ; end of 

 August. 



For Clingstones, the Lemon, Orangey and 

 Heath are veiy fine. 



Culture of Esculeut Roots. 



Rhuharh. — This is a plant that should be cul- 

 tivated in every kitchen garden. It makes deli- 

 cious pies and tarts when nothing else can be had 

 for that purpose ; we prefer it to gooseberries 

 for our own use. Immense quantities of it are 

 sold in London, and in all our own principal 

 markets. Its valuable properties are fast be- 

 coming known. The attention which has re- 

 cently been given to it, has caused the produc- 

 tion of new varieties of gigantic size, single leaf 

 stalks of some of ihem weighing two pounds. 



Myall's Victoria is the best we have seen of 

 the large kinds. It is of monstrous size, and the 

 flavor is excellent. A correspondent of the 

 "Cultivator" describes the " Leviathan" as hav- 

 ing " leaf stalks as long as a walking stick, and 

 leaves as large as an umbrella." That's not bad, 

 we think. 



The roots may be obtained at the nurseries 

 and should be planted in a rich, mellow, deep 

 soil. The smaller kinds may be planted in 

 rows three feet apart, and two feet apart in the 

 rows ; and for the largest the distance should be 

 nearly doubled. 



Sea Kale. — This is a fine kitchen garden 

 plant, that is much neglected. Comparatively 

 few know anything about it. It is fit for early 

 use, and is fully equal to Asparagus, when prop- 

 erly grown and cooked. It mav be raised from 

 seed, or the plants can be had in the nurseries, 

 and may be cultivated in any good garden soil. 

 It is best when blanched, like celery ; and to do 

 this, pots or boxes are placed over the plants 

 early in the spring, as soon as the ground is 

 thawed, to exclude the light. In this way it siioots 

 up lender and beautiful ; when the leaves are 

 three or four inches above ground they are fit 

 for use and may be cut. It is dressed and served 

 up like As[)aragus. It is a good plan to cover 

 the roots in the fall, or beginning of winter, with 

 earth, or what is better, rotten manure. It may 

 be blanched in this way, b)^ those who may not 

 have leisure to use pots or boxes, as reconnnend- 

 ed above. 



Asparagus should now be planted. Prepare 



