PEACH. 197 



Tifyecanoz. — Color bright yellow, with red cheek ; oval 

 form. Ripe 10th to 20th September — cling. 



Propagation. — This is of the simplest character. It ia 

 usually performed by planting the stones (or pits), in No- 

 vember, about two inches deep, in rich, light, or sandy soil. 

 These nearly all vegetate in the Spring, and can be budded 

 the following September, or about the end of August. They 

 are then headed down close to the bud, early in the Spring, 

 when they will make a growth of from three to nine feet the first 

 season, with lateral branches all up the stem. In some parts 

 of Ohio, Kentucky, and Mississippi, the ston6s are planted in 

 November, budded the end of the following June, headed down 

 in July, and make a growth of four to six feet all within one year 

 of the stone being planted. These operations are all performed 

 on the Peach-stone. The tree is consequently short-lived ; 

 but being so readily replaced, that is not generally considered 

 of much consequence. However, we would prefer budding for 

 our own use on the Plum stock. The tree will live half a cen- 

 tury thereon, and will not be subject to the Borer, which is a 

 great enemy to the Peach stock. 



Planting. — If we wish to reap the fruit, we must prepare 

 the soil. As the foundation is laid, so will the erection stand. 

 Plough or dig your soil deep ; manure well the year previous ; 

 plant your trees twenty feet apart, which will take one hundred 

 to the acre. Our remarks on planting Apples will apply here. 

 Cultivate the ground with a light crop, giving manure every 

 two years. 



Pruning. — This is very indifferently attended to in the 

 Peach. The trees are allowed to grow at random — long, strag- 

 gling branches, with the fruit at the extremity, bending them 

 to the ground, and never thinned out. The result is, the first 

 storm breaks half of the limbs, and the fruit does not grow 

 over half its size, ripening premature'y, and commanding 



