98 FRUIT GARDEN, 



mould, and there left to form sprouts, which are taken from 

 the stones and planted in rows. After the first summer's 

 growth, they are budded in August and September. Early 

 the succeeding spring, those in which the operation has suc- 

 ceeded have the old wood cut down close above the new 

 bud, which will shoot up in the course of the season, from 

 three to nine feet high, with numerous side-branches. In 

 some of the Western States, we are informed, it is com- 

 mon to plant the stones in November, and bud the growth 

 the following June, head down in July, and thus secure a 

 growth of four or six feet within one year from the planting 

 of the stone. When budding is performed on the plum 

 stock, they will, it is said, live for half a century, and be 

 free from the attacks of the worm, which is so apt to de- 

 stroy the tree by its excavations into the bark immediately 

 below the crown of the root. In poor, sandy soils, or 

 gravelly subsoils, the tree is very short-lived, seldom bear- 

 ing more than one or two crops before becoming sickly, and 

 dying with what is commonly called the yellows. A light 

 clay loam is the most favorable soil for the peach-tree, and 

 this must be kept rich, or otherwise the trees will soon ex- 

 haust the fertility of the ground, and perish from the yel- 

 lows. Although a clay subsoil, retentive of moisture, is so 

 congenial to the peach-tree, a little excess of moisture is 

 very prejudicial. A happy medium, neither too dry nor 

 too moist, is the great desideratum. 



Planting Out. The ground intended for peach orchards 

 should be ploughed as deeply as possible, and made fine by 

 subsequent harrowing. If well manured the previous year, 

 all the better. The trees, which should be one year old, 

 counting from the budding, are to be placed not nearer 

 than twenty feet apart, which makes one hundred and eight 

 to the acre : on strong land, where they would attain to 



