On Peach Trees. 185 



of three or four feet, in one season. Large orchards 

 are thus obtamed, at a small expence. The knife is 

 never applied to the standard trees (except that some 

 head them down o?ice when young) it being found in- 

 jurious, and to occasion the limbs of pruned trees heavi- 

 ly loaded, to break otF. When suffered to grow at plea- 

 sure, they are multiplied, flexible, and tough ; and lay 

 on the ground unhurt. The crops are certain, abund- 

 ant, and well flavoured. In size, they are little inferior 

 to those on pruned trees ; although the sizes on the same 

 tree, vary much. Trespasses by cattle are sometimes 

 committed ; but the trees browzed or torn, recover the 

 next season, the orchards being generally enclosed ; to 

 exclude horses or horned cattle. They obtain fruit in 

 three years in plenty ; and the trees have been known 

 to endure fifty years. No worms or diseases assail 

 them. They are so easily propagated, and renewed, 

 that cutting down a peach orchard for a course of til- 

 lage, on ground ameliorated by standing many years > 

 occupied as an orchai'd, is not uncommon. The limbs 

 are often so loaded, that the weight prostrates them ; 

 and they laj^ on the ground securely. None break that 

 are not pruned, and they recover their usual position, 

 when the fruit is detached. There are orchards of fifty 

 and seventy acres ; and some larger in Accomac and 

 other parts of the isthmus between the bays of Chesa- 

 peake and Delaware, further south. The more sandy 

 the soil, the better the fruit ; nor should it be over-rich. 

 Peach orchards are planted, to ameliorate worn lands ; 

 and hogs are at certain periods of the season turned in, 

 to feed and root at pleasure. Perhaps insects and ver- 

 min are destroyed by them ; and they benefit the sQi\ 



n m 



