VARIOUS SPECIES OF FRUITS 



159 



Fig. 107. Never "thumb" a Peach to see if it is ripe. 

 Train the eye to recognize the exact stage of maturity 



coldest parts of the 

 country, others have 

 proved hardy even 

 in Maine, Wisconsin 

 and other cold North- 

 ern sections. To be 

 sure, it may not be 

 advisable to grow the 

 fruit for even a local 

 market, but we're not 

 interested in that. 

 It's the home we're 

 aiming to supply. As 

 a matter of fact, 

 then, Peach trees are 

 found in every State 

 of the Union and in 

 most of the Canadian Provinces. 



Few fruits equal and none surpass the Peach for the home plan- 

 tation. It is easy to grow, quick to reach bearing age, highly, and 

 almost annually prolific. Its varieties cover three or four months, 

 are easily obtainable and are perhaps more likely to be true to name 

 than are other tree fruits. 



Where there is any choice the trees should be planted on light 

 soil, on high or elevated land preferably sloping toward the north, 

 northwest, or west, on which sides, if possible, the orchard should 

 be protected from the prevailing winds. Sandy, gravelly and other 

 coarse soils are better than heavy, silty or clayey ones, but where 

 there's no choice the trees may be planted with confidence of good 

 results. Well-drained the soil must be and the situation must not 

 be in a pocket where cold air will settle, or the early opening flowers may 

 be nipped by frost. 



While the Pear and even the Apple may be grown in sod, the 

 Peach never should be. The soil should be kept cleanly cultivated 

 at least until Midsummer and then cover-cropped for the Winter, 

 not too often with clover or other legumes because these tend to 

 supply too much nitrogen and to make the trees tender. No danger 

 need be expected from applications of potash or phosphoric acid. 

 For young trees and those whose foliage is thin, small and yellowish, 

 an ounce of nitrate of soda to the tree should help matters. A pound 

 of each of muriate of potash and basic slag or half as much acid phos- 

 phate will be a good allowance in most cases. When trie trees are 

 in bearing the nitrate dose may be doubled; the others tripled. In 



